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Crime victim services grants

Crime victim services grants

Description of the program

Crime victim services are crucial, life-saving resources for victims and a key element of public safety. The Office of Justice Programs’ Crime Victim Services Grants Unit distributes approximately $60 million in state and federal funds annually to 170 agencies throughout Minnesota to provide direct advocacy services to victims of crime. Federal funding in the program includes Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and Family Violence Prevention and Service Act (FVPSA).

Who is eligible to apply

Nonprofit agencies and local units of government including cities, counties, or townships currently providing services to crime victims to address the impact of crime are eligible to apply. This funding is not intended for new, start-up agencies or programs not currently serving victims of crime in some capacity. Tribal Nations are eligible to apply under the Tribal Nation specific RFP. Statewide crime victim coalitions may apply under the Crime Victim Statewide Coalitions specific RFP.

For nonprofits: Federal 501(c)3 tax exempt status is not required. To be eligible, an applicant must be legally incorporated as a nonprofit in Minnesota and possess state and federal identification numbers. Community-based groups that are not yet incorporated are eligible to apply if using a fiscal agent with nonprofit status. Nonprofit applicants must be registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Next funding opportunity, next grant period

Open competitive funding opportunities for crime victim services funding occurs approximately every 3-5 years. The next open competitive RFP is expected to be released in early 2026. 

Past RFPs

Resources

For Crime Victims

If you are looking for help or resources for you or someone you know, please see the Finding help page.

Program Standards

All agencies funded under Crime Victim Services must follow the program standards applicable to their program type and the services they are funded to provide.

Resources for Programs

Program Data

Service Maps

These service maps show the coverage of the Crime Victim Service program.

Statewide Services Summary Reports

These summary reports share demographics of victims served by the OJP funded crime victim services programs. Additional years can be made available upon request.

Plans and Reports

VAWA

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), allocates Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funding to each state and territory to address violence against women. The two formula programs are Services Training Officers Prosecutors Formula Grant Program (STOP) and Sexual Assault Services Formula Grant Program (SASP). In Minnesota, half of the VAWA STOP funds are dedicated to developing and strengthening effective law enforcement and prosecution responses and strategies to combat violent crimes against women. 

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) requires a coordinated state plan on how the state uses federal funding related to crime victim services. You can find the current plan below.

Current grantees, current grant period

Current Grantees (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026)

Types of Programs Funded

Child Advocacy Center

Child Advocacy Centers provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary team response to allegations of physical and sexual child abuse in a dedicated, child-friendly setting. The team response includes forensic interviews, medical evaluations, therapeutic intervention, victim support and advocacy, case review, and case tracking. These components may be provided by a child advocacy center's staff or by other members of the multidisciplinary team. To the maximum extent possible, components of the team response are provided at the Child Advocacy Center in order to promote a sense of safety and consistency to the child and family.​

Domestic Violence Community Advocacy

Domestic Violence Community Advocacy Programs (CAP) provide advocacy services including 24-hour crisis intervention, safety planning, arrangements for emergency housing and transportation to safety, assistance in pursuing civil, criminal and family court remedies, accompaniment to appointments as appropriate, and coordination of services provided by other agencies. CAP programs also provide information and referral to resources which may include childcare, services for children, income maintenance, legal services, food and clothing, medical services, transitional housing resources and social services. CAP programs are primarily housed in community-based non-profit organizations including domestic violence shelters, and within a few local governmental entities.

Domestic Violence Shelter

Domestic Violence Shelter programs provide temporary emergency housing for victims of domestic violence and their children. Shelters provide 24-hour crisis intervention; advocacy and emotional support; safety planning; assistance in securing emergency services such as shelter, food, childcare, clothing, financial assistance, medical services, and other necessities; assistance in pursuing civil, criminal and family court remedies; information and referral to access human, social and/or family services and other public benefits programs; group support; and accompaniment to appointments as available. Shelter programs serve the wider community and often have a community advocacy program working within the community for victims of domestic violence not needing emergency shelter.​

General Crime Victim Services

General Crime Victim Services programs provide advocacy services to victims of crimes such as assault, robbery, burglary, theft, homicide, elder abuse, driving while impaired, criminal vehicular homicide/operation and other traffic offenses with a victim, arson, fraud, identity theft, criminal damage to property, bias motivated crimes, labor trafficking and other crime types not served by a specific other program type (domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, sex trafficking). Services include 24-hour crisis intervention, transportation, acting on victims' behalf with social services or criminal justice agencies, assistance in filing reimbursement claims, filing temporary restraining orders, emotional support during trials, and having information available regarding possible legal resources. General Crime Victim programs are primarily housed in community-based non-profit organizations.

Legal Advocacy

Legal advocacy programs address the legal needs of victims. Services include information about civil and criminal remedies available to crime victims, referrals to support services, and legal consultation and advice. In some instances, legal advocacy programs may provide legal representation for a victim's legal needs related to crime victimization, including but not limited to, family law matters, privacy issues, immigration issues, and consumer law issues. Legal advocacy programs may work in tandem with an advocacy agency providing direct services to crime victims. Legal advocacy agencies are community-based non-profit organizations.

Parenting Time Center

Parenting Time Centers (PTC) provide supervised visitation, monitored visitation, and supervised exchange programming to provide a safe, non-violent environment for children to have positive interaction with parents and siblings; an opportunity for the non-custodial parent to interact with their child; a safe and neutral site for exchanges to take place; and information and referral resources to families. For parents who are separated/divorced, court-ordered, and where children are in foster home placement, PTC programs provide a safe environment at a neutral site.  

Prosecutor-based Crime Victim Services

Prosecutor-based crime victim services are services within a county or city attorney's office that receives grant funds to assist victims of all types of crime such as assault, domestic violence, child abuse, robbery, burglary, theft, homicide, elder abuse, sexual assault, driving while impaired, criminal vehicular homicide/operation and other traffic offenses with a victim, arson, fraud, identity theft, sex and labor trafficking, criminal damage to property, and bias motivated crimes. Prosecutor-based services must provide victims with information about their rights under the Crime Victims Bill of Rights, Minnesota Statutes Chapter 611A, and other relevant victims' rights laws. Staff provide assistance to victims and their families and ensure crime victims' rights are upheld in the criminal justice system process. Staff provide notifications, services, and communicate victims' input and concerns to the prosecutor. Staff provide information and support, act as a liaison with other criminal justice partners, and assist with hearing preparation, court accompaniment, restitution requests, crime victim reimbursement claims, and victim impact statements. ​

​Services for Children and Youth Impacted by Crime

Services for Children and Youth Impacted by Crime include (but is not limited to) children and youth who have experienced violent assault or gunshot; physical or sexual assault or neglect; child abuse imagery; sex and/or labor trafficking; and children/youth who witness violence. Services may include 24-hour crisis line, personal advocacy and emotional support, crisis intervention, safety planning, legal advocacy, information and referral, transportation, group support, assistance in securing emergency services and other necessities. Children and Youth programs are housed in or operate in a variety of community-based non-profit organizations that typically provide other services and support. 

Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault programs provide advocacy services for victims of sexual violence including 24-hour crisis intervention, emotional support, safety planning, assistance in securing emergency services, transportation, information and referral, assistance during medical procedures, assistance during investigations and court activities, group support, and assistance in accessing human/social/family services. Sexual Assault programs are primarily housed in community-based non-profit organizations and a few local governmental entities.

Statewide Crime Victim Coalition

Statewide Crime Victim Coalitions are grassroots, membership-based organizations that support the elimination of violence, advocate on behalf of crime victim issues, challenge ideas and attitudes which permit violence to continue, and respond to the needs and concerns of communities through input from its members. Coalition activities increase the capacity of direct service providers to promote and provide services through training, policy development, building collaborative relationships with criminal justice entities, bringing national issues to the work in Minnesota, and furthering diversity, equity and inclusion at the program level. The funded statewide coalitions are: Minnesota Alliance on Crime, Minnesota Children's Alliance, Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition, Mending the Sacred Hoop, and Violence Free Minnesota.​​

Contact

Cecilia Miller, Crime Victim Services Grants Director, cecilia.miller@state.mn.us