Tribes receive crime victim funds

Three Oklahoma tribes were awarded nearly $2 million this week to support crime victims. Nationwide, the Office for Victims of Crime awarded more than $5.7 million to support crime victims in Native American communities in Alaska, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Washington and Wisconsin.

The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma received $704, 949 to hire a crime victim advocate and to develop a cultural outreach program for those affected by v iolence. The funding also will help improve transportation for crime victims and provide emergency shelter services and counseling services.

The Chickasaw Nation was awarded $628,737 to improve victim services by hiring additional staff and enhancing training, while also providing transportation for crime victims.

The Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma was awarded $579,596 to expand services to victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, sexual assault, dating violence and human trafficking by hiring a victim advocate. The award also will fund transportation to reach survivors in remote areas and provide legal and mental health services to those impacted by crime.

OVC has awarded more than $9 million to date of up to $100 million to support tribal victim service programs. The grants are supported by the Crime Victims Fund, a repository of federal criminal fines, fees and special assessments. The fund includes zero tax dollars.