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 2024 Executive Budget recommends $218.5 million in appropriations, an increase of $760,000 from FY 2023. The increase is primarily driven by additional capital support for the storage of sexual offense evidence collection kits, and general salary increases. The Executive Budget recommends 96 FTEs for the Office, no change 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 2023	Appropriations Recommended FY 2024	Change From FY 2023	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2024
State Operations	17,861,003	18,321,000	459,997	14,580,000
Aid To Localities	198,643,000	198,643,000	0	506,628,000
Capital Projects	1,200,000	1,500,000	300,000	1,944,000
Total	217,704,003	218,464,000	759,997	523,152,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program	FY 2023 Estimated FTEs 03/31/23	FY 2024 Estimated FTEs 03/31/24	FTE Change
Administration
General Fund	7	7	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	41	41	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	48	48	0
Total	96	96	0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2023	Recommended FY 2024	Change
General Fund	2,530,000	2,530,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	8,520,998	8,540,000	19,002
Special Revenue Funds - Other	6,810,005	7,251,000	440,995
Total	17,861,003	18,321,000	459,997
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) From
Special Pay Bill
General Fund	(227,003)
Appropriated FY 2023	17,634,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2023	Recommended FY 2024	Change
Administration
General Fund	2,530,000	2,530,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	5,419,998	5,392,000	(27,998)
Special Revenue Funds - Other	6,810,005	7,251,000	440,995
Victim and Witness Assistance
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	3,101,000	3,148,000	47,000
Total	17,861,003	18,321,000	459,997

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	550,000	50,000	550,000	50,000
Total	550,000	50,000	550,000	50,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Supplies and Materials
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	1,980,000	(50,000)	50,000	30,000
Total	1,980,000	(50,000)	50,000	30,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Travel		Contractual Services
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	10,000	0	1,620,000	(30,000)
Total	10,000	0	1,620,000	(30,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Equipment
Program	Amount	Change
Administration	300,000	(50,000)
Total	300,000	(50,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	12,643,000	412,997	7,750,000	69,834
Victim and Witness Assistance	3,148,000	47,000	1,687,000	16,000
Total	15,791,000	459,997	9,437,000	85,834

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change
Administration	4,893,000	343,163
Victim and Witness Assistance	1,461,000	31,000
Total	6,354,000	374,163

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2023	Recommended FY 2024
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	161,523,000	161,523,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	37,120,000	37,120,000
Total	198,643,000	198,643,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2023	Recommended FY 2024	Change
Payment to Victims
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	11,523,000	11,523,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	24,080,000	24,080,000	0
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	198,643,000	198,643,000	0

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program	Available FY 2023	Recommended FY 2024	Change	Reappropriations FY 2024
SOECK Storage Facility
Capital Projects Fund	0	0	0	744,000
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds	1,200,000	1,500,000	300,000	1,200,000
Total	1,200,000	1,500,000	300,000	1,944,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 02/01/2023

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