Governor Andy Beshear has announced $16 million in grant funding awarded to 88 organizations across Kentucky that provide direct services to crime victims, according to a statement from the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.

The funding enables organizations to continue providing critical support that helps victims rebuild their lives following crimes including child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, homicide, burglary, theft and drug and alcohol-related offenses. The grants come from the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), a formula grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The awards represent part of the Beshear-Coleman administration's broader commitment to victim services. Since taking office, the administration has awarded more than $162 million in grant funding to victim service agencies across the commonwealth, serving hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians.

Organizations receiving funding can use the grants to provide direct victim services, coordinate activities that facilitate service delivery across local, regional or statewide levels, and implement prevention programming integrated with direct service provision. Priority is given to projects serving victims of child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence, though funding also supports services for other groups including survivors of homicide, victims of burglary or theft, and elderly victims.

Grant recipients serve diverse populations through crisis intervention, counseling, legal aid, shelter services and advocacy programs. Services also help victims navigate compensation programs and obtain protection from abusers. Some funding supports civil legal assistance and services for families affected by abuse.

The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, which oversees the state's victim services grants, works to match available federal dollars with Kentucky programs serving crime victims. The cabinet's Grants Management Division can be contacted at JUSIGX@ky.gov for information about victim services programs and future funding opportunities.