Chapter 14 What Agency Am I?

Established by the 1984 Victims of Crime Act to oversee diverse programs that benefit victims of crime, I provide funding to state victim assistance and compensation programs. I support training designed to educate criminal justice and allied professionals regarding the rights and needs of crime victims.

I enforce federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, handicap, religion, and national origin. I enforce laws that prohibit discrimination in education, employment, credit, housing, public accommodations and facilities, voting, and certain federally funded and conducted programs. In addition, I prosecute actions under several criminal civil rights statutes that preserve personal liberties and safety. 

I handle the Justice Department’s legal and policy issues regarding violence against women. I work closely with components of other federal agencies to implement the mandates of the Violence against Women Act and subsequent legislation.

Created as a result of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, I advance community policing in jurisdictions across the country. I provide grants to tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to hire and train community-policing professionals; acquire and deploy cutting-edge crime-fighting technologies; and develop and test innovative policing strategies.