Opportunity Information: Apply for OVC 2017 12180
The OVC FY 17 Increasing Legal Access to Victims of Crime: Innovations in Access to Justice Programs grant opportunity is a discretionary, cooperative agreement funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), focused on expanding and modernizing civil legal services for victims of crime. The overall intent is to strengthen victims ability to access meaningful legal help, especially in areas where services are limited, and to support approaches that can be replicated or scaled. In total, OVC planned to invest about $8.15 million across three separate but complementary projects that collectively aim to (1) increase direct legal capacity, (2) use technology and other innovations to reach underserved rural communities, and (3) provide training and technical assistance so partnerships can deliver stronger victim-centered advocacy.
The opportunity was structured around three distinct purpose areas, with OVC expecting to make one award in each purpose area, for a total of three awards. Each purpose area had its own funding ceiling and performance period. The program emphasizes legal access and victim services, falling under the funding activity categories of Income Security and Social Services and Law, Justice, and Legal Services, and is associated with CFDA number 16.582. Because the instrument type is a cooperative agreement, recipients should expect substantial federal involvement beyond a typical grant, such as collaboration with OVC on project direction, deliverables, or implementation milestones.
Purpose Area 1, titled Increase Capacity and Access to Civil Legal Help for Crime Victims Through Legal Fellows Program (Legal Fellows Program), was designed to expand the availability of civil legal assistance for crime victims by supporting a fellows model. OVC anticipated a single award of up to $4,000,000 for a 2-year performance period. In practical terms, this purpose area is aimed at growing the field by placing and supporting legal fellows who can provide direct services, build institutional capacity within host organizations, and help close gaps in civil legal representation for victims. The focus on civil legal help typically relates to the kinds of legal issues victims frequently face outside the criminal prosecution process, such as protection orders, housing stability, employment problems, family law matters, benefits access, privacy concerns, and other legal barriers that can affect safety and long-term recovery.
Purpose Area 2, titled Using Technology/Other Innovations to Increase Legal Access in Rural Areas, targeted the specific challenge of reaching victims in rural and remote communities where legal services, transportation, and specialized victim advocacy are often limited. OVC anticipated one award of up to $3,150,000 with a 3-year performance period. The emphasis here is on innovation, including technology-enabled models and other creative service delivery approaches that can reduce distance and capacity barriers. This could include developing remote intake and referral systems, secure communication tools, online triage or self-help resources paired with attorney assistance, mobile clinics, or coordinated networks that allow rural victims to access legal help and related victim services more quickly and consistently. The longer performance period reflects the time typically needed to design, pilot, refine, and scale technology or innovation-driven solutions.
Purpose Area 3, titled Training and Technical Assistance: Legal Partnerships Increasing Medical Care Advocacy to Crime Victims, focused on strengthening the skills, coordination, and sustainability of partnerships that sit at the intersection of legal services and medical care advocacy for victims. OVC anticipated one award of up to $1,000,000 for a 2-year performance period. This purpose area is built around the idea that many victims needs show up first in health care settings and that effective responses often require legal remedies alongside medical and social supports. The training and technical assistance component is meant to help professionals and partner organizations develop stronger protocols, referral pathways, and collaborative practices so victims can receive more holistic advocacy. Rather than primarily funding direct representation, this area centers on capacity-building through guidance, training materials, consultation, and problem-solving support to improve how these partnerships operate and how they serve victims.
Administratively, the opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number OVC-2017-12180) was posted with a creation date of June 16, 2017, and an original closing date of July 18, 2017. The award ceiling listed for the announcement was $4,000,000, reflecting the maximum for Purpose Area 1, and the expected number of awards was three, matching the three purpose areas. Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility text of the announcement. Overall, the grant is best understood as a three-part strategy: increase the supply of victim-focused civil legal assistance through a fellows program, expand reach in rural areas through technology and innovative delivery models, and improve systemwide effectiveness through training and technical assistance that strengthens legal-medical and related multidisciplinary partnerships serving crime victims.Apply for OVC 2017 12180
- The Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime in the income security and social services, law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVC FY 17 Increasing Legal Access to Victims of Crime: Innovations in Access to Justice Programs" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.582.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 16, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 18, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the OVC FY 17 "Increasing Legal Access to Victims of Crime: Innovations in Access to Justice Programs" opportunity?
This is a discretionary, cooperative agreement funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). It is focused on expanding and modernizing civil legal services for victims of crime, with an emphasis on improving access to meaningful legal help, especially where services are limited, and supporting approaches that can be replicated or scaled.
Which agency is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).
What type of funding instrument is this?
The instrument is a cooperative agreement. This typically involves substantial federal involvement beyond what is common with a standard grant, such as collaboration with OVC on project direction, deliverables, or implementation milestones.
How much funding did OVC plan to invest across all projects?
OVC planned to invest about $8.15 million across three separate but complementary projects.
How many awards were expected?
OVC expected to make three total awards, with one award in each of the three purpose areas.
How is the opportunity structured?
The opportunity is structured around three distinct purpose areas. Each purpose area has its own funding ceiling and performance period, and OVC expected to make one award per purpose area.
What are the three purpose areas?
The purpose areas are:
- Purpose Area 1: Increase Capacity and Access to Civil Legal Help for Crime Victims Through Legal Fellows Program (Legal Fellows Program)
- Purpose Area 2: Using Technology/Other Innovations to Increase Legal Access in Rural Areas
- Purpose Area 3: Training and Technical Assistance: Legal Partnerships Increasing Medical Care Advocacy to Crime Victims
What is the overall intent of the program?
The overall intent is to strengthen victims' ability to access meaningful legal help, particularly in areas with limited services, and to support approaches that can be replicated or scaled. Collectively, the three projects aim to: (1) increase direct legal capacity, (2) use technology and other innovations to reach underserved rural communities, and (3) provide training and technical assistance so partnerships can deliver stronger victim-centered advocacy.
What is Purpose Area 1 (Legal Fellows Program) designed to do?
Purpose Area 1 is designed to expand the availability of civil legal assistance for crime victims by supporting a fellows model. It is aimed at placing and supporting legal fellows who can provide direct services, build institutional capacity within host organizations, and help close gaps in civil legal representation for victims.
How much funding was anticipated for Purpose Area 1 and how long is the performance period?
OVC anticipated one award of up to $4,000,000 for a 2-year performance period under Purpose Area 1.
What kinds of legal issues are typically included under "civil legal help" for crime victims in this program?
The announcement describes civil legal help as covering legal issues victims often face outside the criminal prosecution process, such as protection orders, housing stability, employment problems, family law matters, benefits access, privacy concerns, and other legal barriers that can affect safety and long-term recovery.
What is Purpose Area 2 focused on?
Purpose Area 2 focuses on using technology and other innovations to increase legal access in rural and remote communities, where legal services, transportation, and specialized victim advocacy are often limited.
How much funding was anticipated for Purpose Area 2 and how long is the performance period?
OVC anticipated one award of up to $3,150,000 for a 3-year performance period under Purpose Area 2.
What types of innovations were mentioned for reaching rural victims under Purpose Area 2?
The description mentions potential innovation and technology-enabled models such as remote intake and referral systems, secure communication tools, online triage or self-help resources paired with attorney assistance, mobile clinics, or coordinated networks to help rural victims access legal help and related victim services more quickly and consistently.
Why is Purpose Area 2 longer than the others?
The opportunity notes that the longer performance period reflects the time typically needed to design, pilot, refine, and scale technology- or innovation-driven solutions.
What is Purpose Area 3 focused on?
Purpose Area 3 focuses on training and technical assistance to strengthen partnerships at the intersection of legal services and medical care advocacy for victims. The goal is to improve skills, coordination, and sustainability so victims can receive more holistic advocacy.
How much funding was anticipated for Purpose Area 3 and how long is the performance period?
OVC anticipated one award of up to $1,000,000 for a 2-year performance period under Purpose Area 3.
Does Purpose Area 3 primarily fund direct legal representation?
No. Purpose Area 3 is centered on capacity-building through training and technical assistance, such as guidance, training materials, consultation, and problem-solving support to improve how partnerships operate and how they serve victims.
What kinds of partnerships are emphasized in Purpose Area 3?
The description emphasizes legal partnerships connected to medical care advocacy, based on the idea that many victims' needs show up first in health care settings and that effective responses often require legal remedies alongside medical and social supports.
What funding activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the funding activity categories of Income Security and Social Services and Law, Justice, and Legal Services.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number associated with this program is 16.582.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is OVC-2017-12180.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The creation date listed is June 16, 2017, and the original closing date listed is July 18, 2017.
What was the award ceiling listed on the announcement?
The award ceiling listed was $4,000,000, which reflects the maximum for Purpose Area 1.
What was listed for eligibility?
Eligibility was listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility text of the announcement.
What is the high-level strategy behind offering three separate purpose areas?
The opportunity is presented as a three-part strategy: increase the supply of victim-focused civil legal assistance through a fellows program, expand reach in rural areas through technology and innovative service delivery models, and improve overall effectiveness through training and technical assistance that strengthens legal-medical and other multidisciplinary partnerships serving crime victims.
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