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Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) was established in 1988 through an amendment to the 1984 Victims of Crime Act to oversee diverse programs that benefit victims of crime. OVC provides substantial funding to victim assistance and compensation programs. OVC sponsors programs and initiatives that support victims of domestic and international terrorism as well as victims of global crimes such as child abduction and tourist-related crimes. Through its Terrorism and International Victims Assistance Services, OVC offers informational resources and services related to international crime victim issues, including developing programs to support victims of  terrorism.

Terrorism and International Victims Assistance Services programs include:

  • The Crime Victim Assistance Emergency Fund (the Emergency Fund), which assists U.S. nationals and U.S. Government employees who become victims of terrorism and mass violence outside of the United States. Support under the Emergency Fund is provided via an interagency agreement with the FBI. Please contact the FBI Office for Victim Assistance (OVA) for more information.
  • The International Terrorism Victims Expense Reimbursement Program (ITVERP), authorized by Congress to reimburse eligible direct victims of acts of international terrorism that occur outside the United States for out-of-pocket expenses associated with the crime.
  • The Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP), which offers multiple avenues of assistance to victims and communities facing acts of terrorism and intentional mass criminal  violence including crisis response, consequence management, criminal justice support grants, crime victim compensation, and consultant services for training and technical assistance.  This funding is not available to individuals but is available to: state victim assistance and victim compensation programs; U.S. Attorneys’ offices; victim service and nongovernmental organizations; federal, state, and local governments.

Additional OVC Resources:

ITVERP

Updated July 7, 2023