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 2025 Executive Budget recommends $366.85 million in appropriations, an increase of $148.18 million from FY 2024. The increase is driven primarily by $120 million in additional State funding to ensure victim service providers are not impacted by potential Federal Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) shortfalls. The Executive Budget also includes support for general salary increases, and additional capital support for the storage of sexual offense evidence collection kits.

The Executive Budget recommends 110 FTEs for the Office, an increase of 14 FTEs from FY 2024, to support the expansion of eligibility for victims and survivors of crime to access victim compensation funds.

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 2024	Appropriations Recommended FY 2025	Change From FY 2024	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2025
State Operations	18,524,039	26,004,000	7,479,961	17,191,000
Aid To Localities	198,643,000	336,743,000	138,100,000	580,566,000
Capital Projects	1,500,000	4,100,000	2,600,000	2,868,000
Total	218,667,039	366,847,000	148,179,961	600,625,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program	FY 2024 Estimated FTEs 03/31/24	FY 2025 Estimated FTEs 03/31/25	FTE Change
Administration
General Fund	7	7	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	41	41	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	48	62	14
Total	96	110	14

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2024	Recommended FY 2025	Change
General Fund	2,530,000	2,545,000	15,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	8,540,000	8,851,000	311,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	7,454,039	14,608,000	7,153,961
Total	18,524,039	26,004,000	7,479,961
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) From
Special Pay Bill
General Fund	(203,039)
Appropriated FY 2024	18,321,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2024	Recommended FY 2025	Change
Administration
General Fund	2,530,000	2,545,000	15,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	5,392,000	5,537,000	145,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	7,454,039	14,608,000	7,153,961
Victim and Witness Assistance
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	3,148,000	3,314,000	166,000
Total	18,524,039	26,004,000	7,479,961

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	565,000	15,000	565,000	15,000
Total	565,000	15,000	565,000	15,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Supplies and Materials
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	1,980,000	0	50,000	0
Total	1,980,000	0	50,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Travel		Contractual Services
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	10,000	0	1,620,000	0
Total	10,000	0	1,620,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Equipment
Program	Amount	Change
Administration	300,000	0
Total	300,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	20,145,000	7,298,961	9,081,000	1,206,653
Victim and Witness Assistance	3,314,000	166,000	1,730,000	43,000
Total	23,459,000	7,464,961	10,811,000	1,249,653

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change
Administration	11,064,000	6,092,308
Victim and Witness Assistance	1,584,000	123,000
Total	12,648,000	6,215,308

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2024	Recommended FY 2025	Change
General Fund	0	120,000,000	120,000,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	161,523,000	161,523,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	37,120,000	55,220,000	18,100,000
Total	198,643,000	336,743,000	138,100,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2024	Recommended FY 2025	Change
Payment to Victims
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	11,523,000	11,523,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	24,080,000	42,180,000	18,100,000
Victim and Witness Assistance
General Fund	0	120,000,000	120,000,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	150,000,000	150,000,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	13,040,000	13,040,000	0
Total	198,643,000	336,743,000	138,100,000

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program	Available FY 2024	Recommended FY 2025	Change	Reappropriations FY 2025
SOECK Storage Facility
Capital Projects Fund	0	0	0	362,000
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds	1,500,000	4,100,000	2,600,000	2,506,000
Total	1,500,000	4,100,000	2,600,000	2,868,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/16/2024

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