skip navigation

Victim Services, Office of

skip breadcrumbs

Agency Web Site: https://ovs.ny.gov/Link to External Website

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 2023 Executive Budget recommends $217.5 million in appropriations, an increase of $888,000 from FY 2022. The increase is primarily driven by operational expenses for the storage of sexual offense evidence collection kits, slightly offset by a decrease in capital spending. The Executive Budget recommends 96 FTEs for the Office, an increase of 7 FTEs from the previous year.

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 300 contracts with Victim Assistance Programs serving all 62 counties. Additionally, this Unit coordinates with other 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 2022		 Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2023		 Change From
FY 2022		 Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2023
State Operations 14,206,000 17,634,000 3,428,000 13,265,000
Aid To Localities 198,083,000 198,643,000 560,000 434,058,000
Capital Projects 4,300,000 1,200,000 (3,100,000) 3,763,000
Total 216,589,000 217,477,000 888,000 451,086,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2022
Estimated FTEs
03/31/22		 FY 2023
Estimated FTEs
03/31/23		 FTE Change
Administration
General Fund 0 7 7
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 41 41 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 48 48 0
Total 89 96 7

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2022		 Recommended
FY 2023		 Change
General Fund 0 2,530,000 2,530,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 7,675,000 8,460,000 785,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 6,531,000 6,644,000 113,000
Total 14,206,000 17,634,000 3,428,000
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) From
Special Pay Bill
General Fund (297,000)
Appropriated FY 2022 13,909,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2022		 Recommended
FY 2023		 Change
Administration
General Fund 0 2,530,000 2,530,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 5,405,000 5,359,000 (46,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 6,531,000 6,644,000 113,000
Victim and Witness Assistance
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 2,270,000 3,101,000 831,000
Total 14,206,000 17,634,000 3,428,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2023 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000
Total 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2023 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 2,030,000 2,030,000 20,000 20,000
Total 2,030,000 2,030,000 20,000 20,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2023 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 10,000 10,000 1,650,000 1,650,000
Total 10,000 10,000 1,650,000 1,650,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2023 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Equipment
Amount Change
Administration 350,000 350,000
Total 350,000 350,000

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2023 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 12,003,000 67,000 7,533,000 367,000
Victim and Witness Assistance 3,101,000 831,000 1,671,000 71,000
Total 15,104,000 898,000 9,204,000 438,000
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2023 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Administration 4,470,000 (300,000)
Victim and Witness Assistance 1,430,000 760,000
Total 5,900,000 460,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2022		 Recommended
FY 2023		 Change
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 161,523,000 161,523,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 36,560,000 37,120,000 560,000
Total 198,083,000 198,643,000 560,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2022		 Recommended
FY 2023		 Change
Payment to Victims
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 11,523,000 11,523,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 23,520,000 24,080,000 560,000
Victim and Witness Assistance
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 150,000,000 150,000,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 13,040,000 13,040,000 0
Total 198,083,000 198,643,000 560,000

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2022		 Recommended
FY 2023		 Change Reappropriations
FY 2023
SOECK Storage Facility
Capital Projects Fund 4,300,000 0 (4,300,000) 3,763,000
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds 0 1,200,000 1,200,000 0
Total 4,300,000 1,200,000 (3,100,000) 3,763,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 05/11/2020

^Top