Victims of Crime Act

VOCA, or the Victim of Crime Act, passed federal legislation in 1984 to help provide direct services for victims of crimes. After the implementation of this act, grant funding became available to service clients who had been victimized.

The VOCA program here at Catholic Charites of Fairfield County was launched in 2019 to provide case management services for victims. Our goal is to create a stable and safe environment for the client and families to heal through the use of advocacy, support, setting and planning out goals, and having a trauma and culturally sensitive environment.

Clients must meet the following eligibility requirements: victimization occurred in Connecticut, and/or victim lived in Connecticut when the victimization occurred, and/or victim lived in Connecticut at the time services are sought.

We actively work with clients who have currently been the victim of a crime or in the past had been victimized but are currently struggling. Police reports or involvement and/or court involvement are not needed in order to utilize this program.

• Connection to resources like counseling, housing assistance, shelters, childcare, food resources, transportation
• Crisis intervention and safety planning

We currently work with victims of the following crimes and help them navigate through the system:

• Adults sexually abused/assaulted as children • Adult physical assault • Bullying (cyber, physical, or verbal) • Burglary • Child Physical Abuse and Neglect • Domestic and/or Family Violence • DUI/DWI Incidents • Elder Abuse/Neglect • Hate Crimes (Racial/Religious/Gender/ Sexual Orientation/Other) • Human Trafficking for Sex or Labor • Identity Theft/Fraud/Financial Crimes • Other Vehicular Victimization • Stalking/Harassment • Survivors or Homicide Victims • Teen Dating Victimization

The VOCA program is funded through the Office of Victims Services.

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