The mission of the Victims’ Services Committee is to advocate for victims of crime by promoting the development of effective programs that improve the response of human service professionals and the criminal justice system.

Program Priorities

A.     Domestic Violence Service Agencies 

Basic domestic violence services must be provided from an already established (at least four years), domestic violence, victim service agency as recognized by the N.C. Council for Women/Domestic Violence Commission and/or the Governor’s Crime Commission.

Basic domestic violence services will be limited to:

• Counseling services

• Information and referral services

• Court advocacy services

• Shelter services

• Crisis line operation

• Direct services volunteer programs

• Therapy

• Client outreach services

• In-shelter children’s programming

• Associated contractual, travel, supplies and equipment expenses.

These applications are subject to funding limits. The funding limits will differ depending on the type of program applying, as follows:

1. Programs providing services from within a shelter – the cap is $42,000.

2. Programs from which non-shelter, domestic violence services are provided – the cap is $28,000.

3. Programs that are operating a satellite office in a neighboring county, the cap is $14,000.

* As always, funding amounts, cap or otherwise, are subject to receipt of Federal Funds.

B.     Innovative Domestic Violence Services 

Innovative domestic violence projects will be funded for unlimited amounts. Innovative programs are services never before offered in a particular geographic or population area by an agency with strong recommendations for any combination of the following types of programming:

• Domestic violence and substance abuse services and/or,

• Domestic violence and mental health services and/or,

• Domestic violence and developmental disabilities services

• Any service listed under "Basic domestic violence services" can also be considered innovative if the service has never been provided by the implementing agency.

C.     Law Enforcement/Prosecutors’ Offices/Court Officials

55% of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) award to NC must be allocated to this program priority. Allocations are 25% for law enforcement, 25% for prosecution, and 5% for court initiatives.

• Developing, training or expanding specialized units or victim assistant programs that target violent crimes against women, such as domestic violence or sexual assault investigative or prosecutorial teams to include evidence-based prosecution.

• Training to criminal justice system professionals (judges, prosecutors, law enforcement, probation officers, magistrates, clerks of court) on issues related to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, which may include training on the Full Faith & Credit provision of the Violence Against Women Act.

D.     Sexual Assault Agencies

Proposals should describe services that will enhance the delivery of direct services to sexual assault victims which may include cyber crimes.

E.     Child Abuse and Neglect Agencies

Proposals should describe services that will enhance the delivery of direct services to victims of physical or sexual abuse and/or neglect which may include services that address child abuse victimization via cyber-stalking.

F.     Other Domestic Violence Proposals

Projects in this area may come from other non-profit agencies that provide services to domestic violence victims besides the domestic violence victim service providers in each county, for example, Legal Service agencies that provide pro bono legal assistance to victims of domestic violence.

G.     Training and Data Collection

Training to criminal justice professionals, the military and religious leaders that enhances their ability to assist victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking, and emphasizes a coordinated community response to include military police and personnel where applicable. Also, research focusing on domestic violence, female adult sexual assault and stalking data collection will be considered.

H.     Improved Responses to Underserved Victims

Priority will be given to innovative programs that provide services to currently under-served victim populations. Underserved victims may include but are not limited to teen victims, victims of various cultural and ethnic groups, survivors of homicide victims, DWI victims, Federal crime victims, and gay/lesbian crime victims.

I.     Improved Services to Elderly Crime Victims

Projects should emphasize direct services addressing economic fraud, abuse by a private caregiver, and abuse by institutional caregivers.

J.     Child Well-Being and Domestic Violence