Maryland Delegation Announces $15.6 Million to Support Victims of Crime

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) today announced $15,601,420 in U.S Department of Justice (DOJ) funding for the State of Maryland to provide financial assistance and support services to crime victims. The grants are provided through the DOJ Office of Justice Programs’ Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) as part of its FY2024 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance and Victim Compensation formula grants.

“Improving public safety is one of our top priorities. As we work to build stronger, safer communities, we also need to provide support to those who have been victim to crime,” said the lawmakers. “VOCA funding has been critical in providing resources to support the health and well-being of victims of crime and will continue to enable the important work of Maryland’s victim service programs.”

The lawmakers fought to stabilize victim assistance and compensation funding through passage of the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021, which supports services for approximately 120,000 victims of crime in Maryland every year. 

"Our VOCA grants are literally changing lives," GOCPP Executive Director Dorothy Lennig said. "One of our sub-grantees, Heartly House, recently used our VOCA funding to support a mother experiencing severe domestic abuse. The victim called Heartly House's support line and received education, resources, and safety planning services all in one call. Using the resources provided to her, she created a plan to find a new home for her and her children and utilized an advocate's services to enroll in Maryland's Address Confidentiality Program to keep her new address hidden from her abuser. The impact VOCA funding provides to vulnerable crime victims in Maryland is immeasurable."

The two VOCA formula grant programs from which these funds were delivered are administered by the OVC. DOJ’s Victim Compensation formula grants provide funding to supplement state compensation programs that provide direct financial assistance and reimbursement to victims for crime-related out-of-pocket expenses, including medical and dental care, counseling, funeral and burial expenses, and lost wages and income.

DOJ’s Victim Assistance formula grants support thousands of victim assistance programs throughout the nation, funded through subgrants from states. These programs provide services such as crisis counseling, telephone and onsite information and referrals, criminal justice support and advocacy, shelter, therapy, and other forms of assistance. Funds may also be used to develop new programs that address emerging needs, gaps in services, and training of victim service advocates.