| **"I believe the way to fight crime more effectively        is by giving the victim more power and rights."**

—A         victim who received services from a         VOCA-funded program in Minnesota

Information is power.         And the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is dedicated to helping you         empower victims. OVC provides quick and easy access to funding information,         training and technical assistance, publications, skill-building tools,         and other vital information resources to enhance victim services.

Formally established         in 1988 through an amendment to the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) of 1984,         OVC's mission has always been to enhance         the Nation's capacity to assist crime victims and provide leadership in         changing attitudes, policies, and practices to promote justice and healing         for all victims of crime.

OVC works with international,         national, tribal, state, military, and local victim assistance and criminal         justice agencies, as well as other professional organizations, to promote         fundamental rights and comprehensive services for crime victims.

Make a difference         by accessing the right information. OVC provides many of the tools you         need—through the OVC Resource         Center (OVCRC), the OVC Training         and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC), and the OVC Web site (*www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc*).         

**...about           the latest justice information**

Whether you are drafting         policies on domestic violence, searching for up-to-date research on child         abuse, investigating a story on hate crime, or seeking statistics on the         nature of victimization in the United States, turn to the OVC Resource         Center for accurate and reliable justice information.

As a component of         the National Criminal Justice Reference         Service (NCJRS), OVCRC has direct access to the most comprehensive         criminal justice library in the world.

OVCRC produces, collects,         maintains, and disseminates comprehensive information and resources for         victim service providers and allied professionals. When you ask OVCRC         for help, our knowledgeable information specialists will provide a response         tailored to your needs. They will also make suggestions about additional         or related resources and even assist you with research.

**Ask         OVCRC for**
- Up-to-date           research and statistics.  Victim-related           publications.Other           information resources and referrals. 
For assistance call         1-800-851-3420 (TTY 1-877-712-9279) or send an e-mail to *askovc@ojp.usdoj.gov*.         Information about victim-related issues is also available from OVCRC 24         hours a day through the Internet (visit *www.ncjrs.org*)         and Fax-on-Demand service (call 1-800-851-3420 and follow the instructions         to receive a listing of available publications).
**...about         individualized tools and strategies.**
Ask OVC TTAC for help         building and enhancing the skills you need to provide victim-sensitive         services. Using experts from the field, OVC TTAC can help you expand your         understanding of victims' issues, assess your program needs, and establish         sound policies—plus provide the support necessary to help you achieve         your goals.
OVC TTAC tailors assistance         to your program's individual needs. Through consultation with TTAC's professional         staff, mentors, and expert consultants, help is available to identify         and secure speakers for conferences and workshops, provide training on         victims' issues, find facilitators for focus groups and strategic planning         meetings, and access other tools and skill-building activities aimed at         effectively working with crime victims.
OVC TTAC offers scheduled         trainings developed by OVC's discretionary grantees and maintains an annual         calendar of training events.
For help in meeting         all your training and technical assistance needs, just ask OVC TTAC. Log         onto *www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc*         for the latest OVC TTAC resources, call 1-866-682-8822, or send an e-mail         to *ttac@ovcttac.org* for more         information.
**Ask         OVC TTAC for**
Technical           assistance and training tailored to strengthen your program.
- Experts           to speak at your next conference or victim-related event.  Onsite           victim service consultants to help you when you need assistance.State-of-the-art           training. 
**...about         the latest online resources.**
The OVC Web site is         the primary source of skill-building tools for victim service providers         and allied professionals. Online you can find general resource publications,         documents related to current critical issues, and conference opportunities         for victim services and allied professionals to help you strengthen your         program.
**Visit         the OVC Web site to**
           Download publications           quickly and easily. 
           Learn about available grants and other           funding opportunities. 
           Access the NCJRS broad Calendar           of Events. 
           Submit queries and requests to OVC via the Ask           OVC e-mail service. 
           Link to national victim service organizations.           
           Search the extensive NCJRS document collection. 
           Obtain specialized products such as program guides, information packages,           and videos. 
           Locate an OVC-funded program that provides assistance to victims at           the state or local level. 
           Access information on current issues. 
           Access applications for grants and training and technical assistance.           

****
**...about         the changing profile of crime         victimization in America.**
To keep up with the         changing profile of crime in the United States and against American citizens         abroad, OVC collects information from the field regarding new and emerging         needs of crime victims. OVC identifies unmet needs and develops policies,         protocols, and guidelines—which are then passed along to you via         OVC publications, conferences, trainings, and technical assistance to         improve your ability to serve victims of crime. 
OVC provides these         resources to the field through its Web site as well as through OVCRC and         OVC TTAC. OVC also provides general resources to help victim service providers         heighten awareness and effect change in their communities. 
Visit the OVC Web         site (*www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc*)         for the latest information on crime victim laws, policies, and programs.         
OVC is committed to         helping you assist crime victims. Contact OVC to take advantage of the         many resources available to help you provide comprehensive, quality services         to victims of crime. 
**OVC         is committed to:**
Enacting and enforcing           consistent, fundamental rights for crime victims.
Providing crime           victims with access to comprehensive, quality services. 
Integrating crime           victims' issues into all levels of the Nation's educational system.
Supporting, improving,           and replicating promising practices in victims' rights and services.
Ensuring that the           voices of crime victims play a central role in the Nation's response           to violence.

**Mission         Statement**
The Office for Victims         of Crime is committed to enhancing the Nation's capacity to assist crime         victims and to providing leadership in changing attitudes, policies, and         practices to promote justice and healing for all victims of crime. OVC         works with national, international, state, military, and tribal victim         assistance and criminal justice agencies, as well as other professional         organizations, to promote fundamental rights and comprehensive services         for crime victims. 

**...to take action.          ...to have an impact.          ...to make a difference.**

**Office         for Victims of Crime (OVC)**        U.S. Department of Justice        810 Seventh Street NW.         Washington, DC 20531         Phone: 202-307-5983        Fax: 202-305-2440
**OVC         Web site: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc**
**OVC         Resource Center         1-800-851-3420        (TTY 1-877-712-9279)                OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center         1-866-OVC-TTAC        (TTY 1-866-682-8880)**
Back         to Welcome to OVC
This document was last updated on September 28, 2004 |
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