$67 million was awarded in federal grants to support crime victims

INDIANA — The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) awarded $67 million in federal grants to more than 190 public and non-profit entities through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) program. The funding will be used to provide direct services and assistance to crime victims throughout the state.

VOCA funding is provided by the Office for Victims of Crime under the U.S. Department of Justice and comes from the fines and restitution paid by convicted federal offenders.

Devon McDonald

“It’s not enough to hold offenders accountable. We also need to support victims who have been impacted by violence and need assistance,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director. “Last year alone, VOCA funds helped more than 200,000 crime victims in Indiana, so this program has a sizable footprint and is vital to communities across the state.”

Receiving grants locally:

  • Lawrence Lawrence County CASA Program – $277,350
  • Lawrence Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office – $111,046
  • Brown Brown County Prosecutor’s Office – $70,951
  • Greene Greene County Prosecutor’s Office – $37,764
  • Jackson Child Care Network, Inc. – $107,478
  • Jackson Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office – $141,315
  • Jackson Reins to Recovery, Inc. – $443,150
  • Monroe Middle Way House, Inc. – $1,064,761
  • Monroe Monroe County CASA, Inc. – $367,532
  • Monroe Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office – $129,004
  • Bartholomew Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office – $297,416
  • Bartholomew Columbus Regional Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence, Inc. – $1,037,238
  • Bartholomew Court Appointed Advocates for Children, Inc. – $742,815
  • Bartholomew Pro Bono Indiana – $143,162
  • Dubois Crisis Connection, Inc.- $274,842
  • Dubois Dubois County CASA – $34,500
  • Dubois Dubois County Prosecutor’s Office – $67,107
  • Dubois Southwestern Indiana Child Advocacy Center Coalition, Inc. – $294,392
  • Sullivan Sullivan County Prosecutor’s Office – $66,040
  • Washington Prisoner & Community Together, Inc. – $958,078
  • Washington Washington County Prosecutor’s Office – $76,724
  • Statewide Family and Social Services Administration – $194,658
  • Statewide Indiana State Police – $240,000
  • Statewide Indiana Youth Services Association – $1,767,754
  • Statewide Mental Health Association in Indiana, Inc. – $850,000
  • Statewide Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) -$177,230

The Victims of Crime Act was established by Congress in 1984 to support state and local programs that assist victims of all kinds of crime including assault, robbery, homicide, driving while intoxicated, fraud, elder abuse, domestic violence, human trafficking, and many others. Overall, VOCA funds are designed to help survivors stabilize their lives after victimization, participate in the justice system and restore a measure of security and safety to their daily lives, along with addressing the physical and emotional trauma of crime.

Over the next two years, these grants will fund a variety of initiatives in Indiana including mental health counseling, transitional housing, crisis intervention, legal aid, and child and youth services. The funding will also be used to support victim advocates, sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs), and other victim-focused positions.

During this cycle, priority was given to projects that focus on serving marginalized and underserved communities, as well as promoting equity and racial justice.

“When it comes to addressing the needs of crime victims, one size does not fit all,” said Kim Lambert, ICJI Victim Services Director. “That’s why funding sources like VOCA are important because they allow organizations, embedded in the community, to create and tailor services to the individual.”

The projects for the 2022-2024 grant cycle were approved by the ICJI Board of Trustees and will be made available to organizations starting in October.

Click here or visit on.in.gov/VOCA for a list of the VOCA award recipients.