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 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.

Major Programs

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.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2026 Executive Budget recommends $352.15 million in All Funds appropriations for the Office of Victim Services, of which $7.1 million is included to expand protections and improve after care for sexual assault survivors, and expand support services for victims of financial abuse and homicide. Additionally, $2.3 million is included for the establishment of a Mass Violence Crisis Response Team, and funding to assist in the aftermath of a mass violence event.

The FY 2026 Executive Budget recommends 110 FTEs for the Office, remaining unchanged from FY 2025.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category	Available FY 2025	Appropriations Recommended FY 2026	Change From FY 2025	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2026
State Operations	26,004,000	26,304,000	300,000	20,180,000
Aid To Localities	336,743,000	325,845,000	(10,898,000)	787,966,000
Capital Projects	4,100,000	0	(4,100,000)	5,979,000
Total	366,847,000	352,149,000	(14,698,000)	814,125,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program	FY 2025 Estimated FTEs 03/31/25	FY 2026 Estimated FTEs 03/31/26	FTE Change
Administration
General Fund	7	7	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	41	41	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	62	62	0
Total	110	110	0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
General Fund	2,545,000	2,545,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	8,851,000	8,851,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	14,608,000	14,908,000	300,000
Total	26,004,000	26,304,000	300,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
Administration
General Fund	2,545,000	2,545,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	5,537,000	5,537,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	14,608,000	14,908,000	300,000
Victim and Witness Assistance
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	3,314,000	3,314,000	0
Total	26,004,000	26,304,000	300,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	565,000	0	565,000	0
Total	565,000	0	565,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Supplies and Materials
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	1,980,000	0	50,000	0
Total	1,980,000	0	50,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Travel		Contractual Services
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	20,000	10,000	1,610,000	(10,000)
Total	20,000	10,000	1,610,000	(10,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Equipment
Program	Amount	Change
Administration	300,000	0
Total	300,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	20,445,000	300,000	9,071,000	(10,000)
Victim and Witness Assistance	3,314,000	0	1,730,000	0
Total	23,759,000	300,000	10,801,000	(10,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2026 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change
Administration	11,374,000	310,000
Victim and Witness Assistance	1,584,000	0
Total	12,958,000	310,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
General Fund	120,000,000	102,000,000	(18,000,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	161,523,000	161,523,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	55,220,000	62,322,000	7,102,000
Total	336,743,000	325,845,000	(10,898,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change
Payment to Victims
General Fund	0	2,000,000	2,000,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	11,523,000	11,523,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	42,180,000	49,282,000	7,102,000
Victim and Witness Assistance
General Fund	120,000,000	100,000,000	(20,000,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	150,000,000	150,000,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	13,040,000	13,040,000	0
Total	336,743,000	325,845,000	(10,898,000)

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program	Available FY 2025	Recommended FY 2026	Change	Reappropriations FY 2026
SOECK Storage Facility
Capital Projects Fund	0	0	0	147,000
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds	4,100,000	0	(4,100,000)	5,832,000
Total	4,100,000	0	(4,100,000)	5,979,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2025

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