AUDIT OF PROGRAM PERFORMANCE FOR

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME TRIBAL VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Audit Division Audit Report 06-08 February 2006 AUDIT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME TRIBAL VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1According to the 2000 Census, 4.1 million people, or 1.5 percent of the total population, identified themselves as American Indians or Alaska 2Natives (Native Americans). Despite the relatively small Native American population, a 2001 study conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) indicated that Native Americans are more likely to be victims of rape or sexual assault, aggravated assault, and simple assault than people of any 3other race in the United States. In 1988, the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) created the Victim Assistance in Indian Country (VAIC) Discretionary Grant program to establish, expand, and improve victim assistance services in Native American communities governed by federal criminal jurisdiction. The VAIC program was designed to address the lack of victim assistance programs and bridge the gap between criminal justice agencies and service providers. Under the VAIC program, during Fiscal Years (FYs) 1999 through 2002, the OVC provided funding totaling $5,466,995 directly to 40 Native American communities to help them establish reservation-based victim ...