Unified is honored to work collaboratively with the federal Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and the Tribal Programs it funds. Below are several resources that can helpful in creating and sustaining Tribal Victim Service Programs funded through OVC.
Office for Victims of Crime
The Official Web site of OVC provides guidance to programs that have been designed to benefit and assist victims of crime. For more information, click here.
Crime Victims’ Rights Laws
This OVC-funded database provides access to victims’ rights statutes, tribal laws, constitutional amendments, court rules, administrative code provisions, and case summaries of related court decisions. For more information, click here.
Office for Victims of Crime Resource Center (OVCRC)
The Office for Victims of Crime Resource Center (OVCRC) is an information hub for people who are involved with research, policy, and practice related to criminal justice, juvenile justice, victim assistance, and drug control. For more information, click here.
Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC)
OVC’s Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) is the gateway to current training and technical assistance for victim service providers and allied professionals who serve victims of crime. For more information, click here.
Victim Assistance Training Online (VAT Online) is a Web-based basic victim advocacy training program that offers victim service providers and allied professionals the opportunity to acquire the basic skills and knowledge they need to better assist victims of crime. VAT Online has four sections: Basics, Core Competencies and Skills, Crimes, and Specific Considerations for Providing Victim Services.
- The Basics section includes information that all victim service providers must know, including victims’ rights and the justice systems, which provides a foundation for victim services.
- The Core Competencies and Skills section includes modules such as basic communication skills, confidentiality, and advocacy.
- The Crimes section includes the characteristics and prevalence of crime, and other information about crimes including sexual assault, elder abuse, and child abuse.
- The Specific Considerations for Providing Victim Services section includes information and skills to serve populations such as LGBTQ populations, campus/university victims of crime, and victims of sexual assault in the military.
For questions related to VAT Online, please call 1–866–682–8822 or e-mail.
TTAC has developed a Strategic Planning Toolkit intended as a guide to the strategic planning process. The Toolkit is organized to help you both learn about the planning process and use the process. It is broken into six sections that correspond to the six steps in strategic planning. The Toolkit can benefit any victim service organization – at the state or local level – that wants to assess where it wants to go in the future.
Performance Measurement
OVC’s Performance Measurement Tool (PMT) is a web-based computer application designed to assist OVC Grantee Programs with reporting on required performance measures. Data reported by Grantee Programs through the PMT helps OVC demonstrate to government agencies, the victim services field, the general public, and other stakeholders the value and benefits of the federal funds awarded by OVC.
OVC hosted an educational webinar about grant program performance measures and PMT navigation. The presentation and transcript can be found here.
OVC encourages review of this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document before entering data into the PMT.
OVC’s Performance Measure Dictionary and Terminology Resource is designed as a resource for terms used as part of OVC’s performance data collection efforts. This resource offers a single location in which to find definitions and examples of terms used across PMT modules and standardizes definitions for easier reporting.
The Transforming Victim Services (TVS) Questionnaire details the questions and performance measures for the Office for Victims of Crime’s (OVC) Transforming Victim Services (TVS) non-formula grant programs. TVS includes awards funded under multiple solicitations and was previously referred to as Vision 21.
This spreadsheet is a data-tracking tool for gathering individual-level data for the Transforming Victim Services (TVS) Victim Services question bank. There are four, pre-labeled, tabs that will assist in tracking data for each quarter of the federal fiscal year. Please note, because this tool is for data tracking only, not all questions on the TVS Questionnaire are reflected in this tool.
The Transforming Victim Services (TVS) Progress Reporting Fact Sheet provides an overview of reporting requirements and schedule, the steps for completing reports in the Performance Measurement Tool (PMT) and the Grants Management Systems (GMS), information and resources on PMT, and the contact information for the PMT and GMS Help Desks.
For assistance with the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Performance Measurement Tool (PMT) please contact the OVC PMT Helpdesk by calling the toll-free number at 1–844–884–2503 or send an e-mail.
The National Criminal Justice Training Center (NCJTC) at Fox Valley Technical College
NCJTC is a Unified partner organization that provides training and technical assistance to assigned OVC Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) and Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (VSSA) grantee programs. The mission of NCJTC is to provide high-quality criminal justice training and technical assistance to enhance public safety and improve the quality of life in our communities.
Funding Opportunities
The U.S. Department of Justice and OVC offer funding opportunities to conduct research, support state and local law enforcement, provide training and technical assistance, implement programs that improve the criminal justice system, and support victim service programs. For more information, click here.
Office for Victims of Crime Library and Multimedia OVC develops publications and products on emerging victim issues, promising practices, policy development, technical assistance, and skill-building tools. For more information, click here.
Grant Management System
The Grants Management System (GMS) is a web-based computer application that provides support for the application, award, and management of OVC grants. The GMS Online Training Tool provides step-by-step instructions on how to use the various modules within GMS. For technical assistance with GMS, e-mail or call, 1-888-549-9901, option 3. For more information and helpful GMS resources, click here.
Please note, the transition to the Justice Grants System (JustGrants) and the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) is just months away.
Beginning on October 15, JustGrants will replace the Grants Management System (GMS) currently used by OJP and OVW, as well as the NexGen system used by the COPS Office. At the same time, ASAP will replace the Grants Payment Request System (GPRS).
Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) registration will take place throughout July and August. Enrollment emails will be sent to your organization’s SAM Electronic Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC). Once you have received your invitation, refer to the ASAP Registration Checklist for the next steps to take. You have 45 days to complete all of the enrollment steps; if you have not completed all steps within the 45-day time frame, you will need to start from the beginning.
The current systems—GMS, NexGen, and GPRS—will be discontinued beginning September 22, 2020. At this time, data and attachments for all current active awards from GMS and NexGen will be migrated to JustGrants. This includes all open, active awards and any awards that have not been programmatically and fiscally closed.
Once migrated, all award management activities will take place in JustGrants beginning on October 15, 2020. Users will not have access to GMS, NexGen, or GPRS after September 22.
In the weeks leading up to the October 15 transition, there are a number of actions current award recipients will need to take. Key dates for these actions are provided at the link below:
For OJP key dates and actions, click here.
Please find additional resources to assist with this transition listed below.
Justice Grants Website: Find more information on the transition to JustGrants, including key dates, news updates, and resources and training opportunities for applicants and recipients of DOJ grant awards and other forms of federal financial assistance.
ASAP Training Opportunities: Access trainings and additional resources regarding the ASAP system.
The Office for Victims of Crime Tribal Financial Management Center (OVC TFMC)
OVC TFMC provides training, technical assistance, and resources to support American Indian and Alaska Native communities as they successfully manage the financial aspects of their federal awards. Financial specialists are available to provide services (at no cost) to tribal grantees including onsite and offsite requests for technical assistance and general questions through the Virtual Support Center.
Office of the Chief Financial Officer
The Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) provides fiscal policy guidance as well as accounting, budget, financial, and grants management. To contact OCFO, please call 1-800-458-0786 or e-mail.
Department of Justice Grants Financial Guide
The Department of Justice (DOJ) hopes that you find the Grants Financial Guide useful and informative. For awards and supplements made after December 26, 2014, and for all funds that remain unobligated under an existing award as of the acceptance date of the first supplement, the Uniform Requirements will apply and the DOJ Grants Financial Guide should be followed. If you have any questions or comments, please contact your OVC Program Manager.
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Established in 1972, the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) is a federally funded resource offering justice and drug-related information to support research, policy, and program development worldwide. For questions, call 1-800-851-3420 (TTY 1-877-712-9279), e-mail, or chat, Monday through Friday during the hours of 10 a.m.-12p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET except on holidays.