****

****DISTRICT SPECIFIC TRAINING**

**Purpose:**  The purpose of this program is to assist U.S. Attorneys in their responsibility tocomply with Federal crime victims' legislation and to improve the response of Federal criminaljustice personnel to the rights and needs of victims of Federal crime.  In order to provide amechanism for U.S. Attorneys' Offices to request assistance in complying with Federal crime victimlegislation, and to further meet the training needs of Federal criminal justice personnel, OVC, incoordination with the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA), initiated the District SpecificTraining Program in 1994. 

********Background:**  The District Specific Training Program is an ongoing effort to respond to theindividual needs of diverse Federal districts in providing training to Federal criminal justicepersonnel and others who assist crime victims daily. Since 1994, OVC has also targeted IndianCountry, which often presents unique obstacles to victims of crime such as fewer law enforcementresources, a shortage of victim services, and geographic isolation.  In response to the unique needsof victims in remote areas of Indian Country, OVC collaborates with the Bureau of Indian Affairs(BIA) each year to encourage the development of regional trainings. Through the District SpecificTraining initiative, OVC has provided funding and personnel support--including scholarships forparticipants--for diverse conferences, such as (1) a Hostage Negotiation Training Conference, (2)the Four Corners Indian Country Conference, (3) the Oklahoma Regional Child Abuse/DomesticViolence Conference, (4)Victim Assistance Conference for military and other Federal criminaljustice personnel, and (5) a nationwide domestic violence teleconference.

****

**A. Requests for Funds**

U.S. Attorneys' Offices may access funds upto $20,000 when three or more districts plan acombined training event for district specifictraining that improves the Federal response tocrime victims.  Individual districts mayrequest up to $5,000.

Within a reasonable time prior to the proposedtraining, the U.S. Attorney from therequesting district must send a letter to OVC'sFederal Crime Victims Division (FCVD),detailing the 

****following points:****

**1.****Statement of Purpose:**     The impact or 

	outcome of training, including expected 	improvements in responding to the needs 	and rights of crime victims.

******2.	Objectives of Training:**  How thetraining will be coordinated, for whom thetraining is designed, type of presentationsexpected, and the number of Federal,tribal, military, and/or other personnel tobe trained.  Also, include the number ofdistrict, Federal agencies, tribalorganizations, and others participating ascosponsors.

******3.	Itemized Budget Request by Category:** Proposed fund use, i.e., for scholarships,consultant fees, travel, per diem, resourcematerials, facilities, and audiovisual aids. Districts are encouraged to includeillustrations of how the requested fundswill best be utilized.**

******4.	Other Funds or Resources:**  The	

	amount of other funds and resources 	that will be available, i.e., registration 	fees; in-kind contributions such as 	volunteer hours by LECC members or 	others; donations towards printing; and 	use of government facilities for holding 	the training event.

******5. Attachments:**A draft agenda, speakers' 	list, and a résumé for each presenter.****

**6. Products:**  Tangible products that will be      produced, i.e.,  protocols, training 	manuals,      or internal guidelines. 

****B. Authorization of Funds******

OVC will review written requests and make adetermination based upon the factors outlinedunder section A, above, and the total amountof funds available at the time of the request. If authorized by the Director, OVC willinform EOUSA and the sponsoring U.S.Attorney about the amount of fundsauthorized.  Final approval authority for theuse of these funds is vested with EOUSA.

**C. Approval of ProposedTraining Agenda******

****

As OVC is responsible for assuring thatVictims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds areutilized as prescribed by VOCA, OVC staffmust review and approve the training agendabefore it is finalized.  In addition, OVC staffcan assist the requestor by providing currentinformation on victim assistance issues, resources available from the OVC Resource 

Center, and a list of qualified OVC TrainersBureau consultants.****

**D. Final ReportingRequirements**

The sponsoring U. S. Attorney must providea report to the FCVD within 60 days of thetraining event to describe how the CrimeVictims Fund was used to improve theresponse to Federal crime victims. OVC willinclude this information in its own Report toCongress.  OVC requires the following:

**1.**Copy of the final agenda and speakers' list.

**2.**	Summary of training activities, trainingevaluations,  accomplishments, and out-

	comes (i.e., changes in policies and 	procedures, adoption of new protocols, and 	formation of working groups).

**3.**	List of attendees and their Tribal, Federal,State, or local affiliations. 

**4.**	List of scholarship recipients.

**5.**	Amount of OVC funds used.  In order tomaximize scarce training dollars, OVCrequests that districts report finalexpenditures as soon as possible.  Unusedtraining funds will be reallocated to otherdistricts.

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*3/2/98*FS000215**

This document was last updated on April 19, 2001