Attorney General Curtis Hill today urged Congress to adopt key changes to the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) that would provide essential financial support to victims of violent crimes and their families. He joined all other U.S. attorneys general in a letter to congressional leaders advocating for the changes.

The Crime Victims Fund, which was established by VOCA, is the primary funding source for victim services in the nation’s 50 states and six territories. Deposits to the fund originate from criminal fines, forfeited bail bonds, penalties and special assessments collected by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, federal courts and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The fund covers the expenses of crucial direct services and support for victims and survivors in the aftermath of crime, including medical care, mental health counseling, lost wages, courtroom advocacy and temporary housing.

Unfortunately, the financial health of the fund is in jeopardy. In 2015, Congress increased the cap on distributions to the fund, allowing 2.5 million more victims to receive support. But, according to the letter, while “deposits have sharply decreased in recent years due to a decline in the fines and penalties recouped from federal criminal cases, withdrawals have increased at a rapid pace.”

In the letter, the attorneys general call on Congress to adopt changes to the fund that would stabilize its finances and provide more flexibility to grantees who provide services to victims and their families. 

“Without action from our elected leaders, the balance of the Crime Victims Fund is projected to reach a 10-year low by next year,” Attorney General Hill said. “Now is the time for Congress to enact bipartisan changes that would replenish the health of the fund and reaffirm our commitment to supporting victims of violent crimes.”

The attorneys general make three recommendations to promote the sustainability of the fund and to preserve access to programs and services:

• Redirect fines and fees from corporate deferred and non-prosecution agreements to the Fund: The Department of Justice increasingly uses deferred and non-prosecution agreements to resolve corporate misconduct. The attorneys general ask Congress to redirect these deposits to the fund. About $8 billion was recovered in both 2018 and 2019 as a result of these agreements.

• Increase the rate of federal reimbursement to states for victim compensation programs: The Crime Victims Fund currently reimburses state programs that provide financial assistance to victims at a rate of 60%, the remainder usually being funded by fines and fees in state courts. The letter recommends Congress reimburse state programs at a rate of 75%.

• Extend the amount of time during which VOCA funds can be spent: VOCA requires recipients to spend grants within a four-year period. The attorneys general have asked Congress to extend the period of funding so that state and local organizations can better plan and predict funding for long-term services.

Tool aggregates nearly two years of applicant data into map to help identify the most pressing needs of Hoosiers and their communities

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration today announced the launch of a new statewide, interactive map showing the prevalence of unmet social needs throughout the state, community by community. With the data, communities can identify and prioritize emerging social needs and target services to proactively and strategically address those needs.

The information is just one example of how state agencies can answer Gov. Eric J. Holcomb’s Tuesday, Aug. 18 call to action to shape change regarding equity and inclusion. The well-being atlas will shed light on disparity data across all counties.

“This type of data, which includes age, race and education demographics, will help us uncover disparities our populations face in accessing services needed to provide for their families, seek medical care, find and keep gainful employment, and pursue a safe and healthy life,” Governor Holcomb said.

The “Hoosier Health and Well-Being Atlas” highlights two years of data volunteered by Hoosiers when they apply for state health coverage programs, food assistance or emergency cash assistance. The site launched today at www.FSSA.in.gov.

“With information collected representing nearly 300,000 households, the Hoosier Health and Well-Being Atlas provides a dynamic view of the various challenges facing our communities and citizens,” said Jennifer Sullivan, M.D., M.P.H., FSSA secretary. “We are using this tool at the state to make sure our programs align with the real, current needs of Hoosiers and to help charitable organizations deploy their resources to address the most pressing issues at the local level.”

In 2018, FSSA added 10 optional survey questions to the online applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and health coverage. The purpose was to capture information about the experiences of applicants and clients in order to help better serve them.

“This ability to examine demographic information enables FSSA, and others, to partner with local communities to work toward more equitable access to services and improved health outcomes among marginalized populations,” added Dr. Sullivan. “With a more robust understanding of racial and ethnic disparities, we will be better positioned to design, implement and evaluate policies and programs that seek to address these persistent injustices across Indiana.”

While FSSA encourages applicants to complete the survey questions, they are optional and have no impact on eligibility determinations. About one in five applicants have completed the survey since it launched.

The 10 questions are as follows:

• In the last 12 months, did you ever eat less than you felt you should because there wasn’t enough money for food?
• In the last 12 months, has your utility company shut off your service for not paying your bills?
• Are you worried that in the next 2 months, you may not have stable housing?
• Do problems getting child care make it difficult for you to work or study? (leave blank if you do not have children)
• In the last 12 months, have you needed to see a doctor but could not because of cost?
• In the last 12 months, have you ever had to go without health care because you didn’t have a way to get there?
• Do you ever need help reading hospital materials?
• Are you afraid you might be hurt in your apartment building or house?
• During the last 4 weeks, have you been actively looking for work?
• In the last 12 months, other than household activities or work, do you engage in moderate exercise (walking fast, jogging, swimming, biking or weight lifting) at least three times per week?

More information about how the survey was conducted:

• This survey was made available to individuals who applied online ONLY and does not represent anyone who applied in-person, by telephone, by mail or any other method. In 2019, 80% of those who applied for SNAP, TANF or health coverage applied online.
• Applications are filed at a household level and may represent several individuals. The application process identifies a primary contact person for the household, and that individual’s personal details are represented on the public dashboard; for example, that person’s gender, race and education level.
• An individual who completes more than one application and survey over any given time period is represented once, and the survey answers and demographic details are based on each applicant’s most recent responses. For example, an applicant’s age, education level and survey answers can change over time, and the reporting reflects any such changes.
• All information is presented in aggregate to ensure personally identifiable information is protected. To protect the privacy of individuals, data representing 20 or fewer individuals in any county will not be displayed.