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District of Columbia Code Division I. Government of District. § 4-581.01. Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants.

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

<Text of section applicable upon the date of inclusion of the fiscal effect of D.C. Law 24-341 in an approved budget and financial plan.>

(a)(1) There is established, as a subordinate agency, the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (“OVSJG”) within the District of Columbia government.

(2) OVSJG shall be led by an Executive Director, who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council, pursuant to § 1-523.01(a) and report to the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice.

(3) The Executive Director shall coordinate, hire, and supervise all staff as needed to achieve OVSJG's mission.

(b) OVSJG shall be composed, at a minimum, of the following programs:

(1) The Victim Services Administration, which shall:

(A) Disburse grant funds to community-based organizations and other entities to support victims and survivors of crime and to better coordinate systems of care; and

(B) Disburse grant funds to entities operating or evaluating a hospital-based violence intervention program, as defined in § 14-313(a)(3);

(2) The Justice Grants Administration, which shall disburse grant funds to:

(A) Community-based organizations and other entities to support returning citizens, justice-involved individuals, and other vulnerable populations; and

(B) Support initiatives to improve coordination within the criminal and juvenile justice system, including data collection, research and analysis, information sharing, and compliance monitoring;

(3) The Access to Justice Initiative, established pursuant to § 4-1702.01(a), which shall disburse grant funds to community-based organizations and other entities to support the provision of legal services to low-income and underserved District residents; and

(4) The Truancy Reduction Program, which shall disburse grant funds to community-based organizations and other entities to reduce truancy and chronic absenteeism among students in the District.

(c) OVSJG shall:

(1) Serve as the state administering agency for the following federal funds:

(A) The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds, authorized by section 501 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, approved January 5, 2006 (119 Stat. 3095; 34 U.S.C. § 10152);

(B) Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners funds, authorized by section 1901 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, approved September 13, 1994 (108 Stat. 1898; 34 U.S.C. § 10421);

(C) Title II Formula Grants Program funds, authorized by section 221 of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, approved September 7, 1974 (88 Stat. 1118; 34 U.S.C. § 11131);

(D) Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grants funds, authorized by section 2801 of the of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, approved December 21, 2000 (114 Stat. 2788; 34 U.S.C. § 10561);

(E) The Crime Victims Fund, authorized by the Victims of Crime Act of 1984, approved October 12, 1984 (98 Stat. 2170; 34 U.S.C. § 20101 et seq.); and

(F) Grants to Combat Violent Crimes Against Women funds, authorized by section 2001 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, approved September 13, 1994 (108 Stat. 1910; 34 U.S.C. § 10441);

(2) Monitor the District's compliance with the following federal laws and any expenditure of associated federal funds:

(A) Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003, approved September 4, 2003 (117 Stat. 972; 34 U.S.C. § 30301 et seq.); and

(B) Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, approved July 27, 2006 (120 Stat. 590; 34 U.S.C. § 20901 et seq.);

(3) Administer and make disbursements from the following local funds:

(A) The Crime Victims Assistance Fund, established by § 4-515.01;

(B) Shelter and Transitional Housing for Victims of Domestic Violence Fund, established by § 4-521; and

(C) Community-based Violence Reduction Fund, established by § 1-325.121;

(4) Provide administrative support to:

(A) The Juvenile Justice Advisory Group, as described in Mayor's Order 2009-13, dated February 9, 2009;

(B) Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, established by D.C. Official Code § 16-1052(a); and

<Text of subsec. (c)(4)(C) applicable until the date of inclusion of the fiscal effect of amendments by § 9 of D.C. Law 25-175 in an approved budget and financial plan.>

(C) The Sexual Assault Response Team, established by § 4-561.12(a); and

<Text of subsec. (c)(4)(C) applicable upon the date of inclusion of the fiscal effect of amendments by § 9 of D.C. Law 25-175 in an approved budget and financial plan.>

(C) The Sexual Assault Response Team, established by § 4-561.12(a);

<Text of subsec. (c)(5) applicable until the date of inclusion of the fiscal effect of amendments by § 9 of D.C. Law 25-175 in an approved budget and financial plan.>

(5) Be the sole agency responsible for carrying out the provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, approved September 7, 1974 (88 Stat. 1118; 34 U.S.C. § 11131 et seq.) (“JJDP Act”), and the sole agency responsible for supervising the preparation and administration of the state plan pursuant to section 223(a) of the JJDP Act.

<Text of subsec. (c)(5) applicable upon the date of inclusion of the fiscal effect of amendments by § 9 of D.C. Law 25-175 in an approved budget and financial plan.>

(5) Be the sole agency responsible for carrying out the provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, approved September 7, 1974 (88 Stat. 1118; 34 U.S.C. § 11131 et seq.) (“JJDP Act”), and the sole agency responsible for supervising the preparation and administration of the state plan pursuant to section 223(a) of the JJDP Act; and

<Text of subsec. (c)(6) applicable upon the date of inclusion of the fiscal effect of amendments by § 9 of D.C. Law 25-175 in an approved budget and financial plan.>

(6) Within 180 days after the applicability date of section 9 of the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024, passed on 2nd reading on March 5, 2024 (Enrolled version of Bill 25-345), OVSJG shall develop and launch a public awareness campaign to raise awareness of the availability of government and community-based victim services to the public and the following entities:

(A) Hospitals;

(B) District of Columbia Public Schools;

(C) District of Columbia Public Charter Schools;

(D) College and university campuses in the District;

(E) The District of Columbia Housing Authority;

(F) MPD; and

(G) Community-based organizations.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - District of Columbia Code Division I. Government of District. § 4-581.01. Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants. - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/dc/division-i-government-of-district/dc-code-sect-4-581-01/

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