Victim Services, Office of

Mission

The Office of Victim Services (OVS) has a three-tiered mission to: provide compensation to innocent victims of crime in a timely, efficient and compassionate manner; fund direct services to crime victims via a network of community-based programs; and advocate for the rights and benefits of all innocent victims of crime.

Organization and Staffing

The Office is headed by a Director, who is appointed by the Governor for a term of three years. The Director coordinates and recommends policy relating to the provision of services to crime victims. In addition to the Director, OVS has a staff to aid in the fulfillment of its mission. Work of the agency is carried out from two locations; a primary office in Albany and one in Brooklyn. Major units of the agency include: Investigations, Rehabilitation and Additional Medical Services, Administrative Services, and Grants.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2018 Executive Budget recommends $119.7 million for the Office, an increase of $0.2 million over FY 2017 which is directly attributable to additional Federal grant funds which support the Victim and Witness Assistance Program.

Program Highlights

Victim Compensation

Provides compensation to victims of crime and their families by paying unreimbursed crime-related expenses, including but not limited to: medical and funeral expenses, loss of earnings or support, counseling costs, crime scene clean-up expenses, the cost to repair or replace items of essential personal property, the cost of residing at or utilizing the services of a domestic violence shelter, and limited attorney fees.

Victim and Witness Assistance

Provides awards through a competitive process to organizations across the State serving crime victims. Currently, OVS administers and processes over 200 contracts with Victim Assistance Programs serving all 62 counties. Additionally, this Unit coordinates with other criminal justice agencies in the State on victim and witness service initiatives and priorities and serves as a liaison for the agency with various crime victim coalitions, federal authorities, the public and other interested parties.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category	Available FY 2017	Appropriations Recommended FY 2018	Change From FY 2017	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2018
State Operations	12,797,000	12,973,000	176,000	6,227,000
Aid To Localities	106,725,000	106,725,000	0	190,840,000
Total	119,522,000	119,698,000	176,000	197,067,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program	FY 2017 Estimated FTEs 03/31/17	FY 2018 Estimated FTEs 03/31/18	FTE Change
Administration
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	38	38	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	54	54	0
Total	92	92	0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2017	Recommended FY 2018	Change
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	6,246,000	6,477,000	231,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	6,551,000	6,496,000	(55,000)
Total	12,797,000	12,973,000	176,000
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) From
Special Pay Bill
General Fund	(105,000)
Appropriated FY 2017	12,692,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2017	Recommended FY 2018	Change
Administration
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	5,077,000	4,977,000	(100,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other	6,258,000	6,153,000	(105,000)
Victim and Witness Assistance
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	1,169,000	1,500,000	331,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	293,000	343,000	50,000
Total	12,797,000	12,973,000	176,000

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	11,130,000	(205,000)	5,809,000	134,000
Victim and Witness Assistance	1,843,000	381,000	1,038,000	259,000
Total	12,973,000	176,000	6,847,000	393,000

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change
Administration	5,321,000	(339,000)
Victim and Witness Assistance	805,000	122,000
Total	6,126,000	(217,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2017	Recommended FY 2018
General Fund	2,788,000	2,788,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	67,377,000	67,377,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	36,560,000	36,560,000
Total	106,725,000	106,725,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2017	Recommended FY 2018	Change
Payment to Victims
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	11,523,000	11,523,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	23,520,000	23,520,000	0
Victim and Witness Assistance
General Fund	2,788,000	2,788,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	55,854,000	55,854,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	13,040,000	13,040,000	0
Total	106,725,000	106,725,000	0

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/17/2017

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