In fiscal year (FY) 2018, there were 110 local Victim/Witness programs and three statewide projects focused on the delivery of services required under Virginia’s Crime Victims Bill of Rights (Va. Code § 19.2-11 et seq.). Services provided by these programs include: explaining to crime victims their rights; assisting victims in obtaining protective orders; helping victims apply for compensation; explaining the criminal justice process; accompanying victims to court; assisting victims in preparing victim impact statements; and providing crisis intervention and other services.

The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) provides grant support to Victim/Witness programs using federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funds, state general funds, and state special funds accrued from court fees. The grant awards are based on a funding formula that DCJS developed with the input from local programs and stakeholders. Local Victim/Witness programs are located in government agencies, primarily in the offices of Commonwealth’s Attorneys and Sheriffs offices.

Between FY2007 and FY2016, total funding awarded by DCJS to support local Victim/Witness programs increased just 4.8%. Beginning with the federal Appropriations Act of 2015, each state’s VOCA victim assistance formula allocation was significantly increased, with Virginia’s allocation seeing more than a 400% increase. The availability of increased VOCA funding has allowed DCJS to address long unmet needs within local programs, especially the need to increase staffing levels and the need to initiate programs in unserved areas. However, if current national trends continue, the increased VOCA allocations will likely return to pre-2015 levels in the coming years.

In June 2016, the Criminal Justice Services Board awarded over $13.3 million in VOCA funds to support Victim/Witness programs. The number of VOCA funded positions within those programs increased from 96 to 292. In June 2017, the Criminal Justice Services Board approved level funding to maintain all grant funded programs. New programs were also established in the counties of: Bath, Buckingham, Franklin, and Richmond.