Department of Justice Announces $110 Million Set Aside Grant Program to Assist Crime Victims in Indian Country

FY 2018 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program to Provide Services to Victims of Human Trafficking, the Opioid and Drug Crisis, Child Abuse and Neglect, Domestic Violence, Homicide and Related Crimes

This year, for the first time, the 2018 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides for three percent of funds from the Crime Victims Fund to be used to support a broad set-aside program for Indian tribes to improve services to crime victims.

The Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is seeking applications for the FY 2018 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program solicitation. Under the solicitation, OVC will award eligible tribes, tribal consortia, and tribal designees grants to support a wide-range of services for victims of crime.  OVC anticipates making up to $110 million available through this solicitation to support tribes to improve victim services.

The Department of Justice has long recognized the critical need to fully and more effectively support American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) victims of crime. In recent years, the department has conducted numerous tribal consultations and listening sessions to learn more about the needs and resources associated with supporting AI/AN crime victims.  The FY 2018 set-aside program has expanded the types of crimes addressed to cover victims of human trafficking; victimization as a result of opioid/drug-related crisis, child abuse and neglect, as well as victims of cybercrime and financial crime, among other areas. 

In developing the scope of activities allowable with this funding, OVC took into account input from tribal leaders and other stakeholders regarding needs for victim services in tribal communities.  This solicitation has a streamlined, two-phase application process for this unique program.

OVC will conduct a Phase 1 pre-application webinar on Thursday, June 28.  Webinar participation is optional but strongly encouraged. OVC staff will review the solicitation requirements and conduct a question and answer session with interested potential applicants. Phase 1 applications are due on August 6, 2018.