Beshear announces over $4.8M in funding available to support victims of crime
FRANKFORT, Ky. – On Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced organizations providing services to victims of crime and their families can apply for more than $4.8 million in federal grant funding.
Beshear says those applications open Monday, Jan. 12.
The funding is sourced from the federal Victims of Crime Act, according to a release by the governor’s office.
The release says that funding is available to victim service providers across the Commonwealth, including prosecutor’s offices, law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations that offer direct services to victims.
“Every single Kentuckian should have the chance to rebuild their lives after experiencing devastating, life-changing events, and that includes crime” Beshear said. “This annual funding helps us support direct services that provide for our people in their times of greatest need, to help them get back on their feet and to let them know their life is not defined by being a crime victim.”
According to the release, the Victims of Crime Act is a federal grant program supporting direct assistance services to victims and survivors of the following:
- Child abuse
- Sexual assault
- Domestic violence
- Homicide
- Burglary, theft and drug and alcohol-related crime
- Adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse or assault
Funds can also support advocacy for victims of domestic or sexual violence, civil legal aid, services for children and families affected by physical or sexual abuse and survivors of human trafficking, according to the governor’s office.
State agencies, local units of government and private not-for-profit organizations can apply for the funding.
Organizations that have already received a noncompetitive allocation for the VOCA 2026-27 funding period are not eligible to apply, the release says.
“No one should face the aftermath of crime alone, and our partner stakeholders across the commonwealth make sure no victim of crime has to,” said Justice and Public Safety Cabinet secretary Keith Jackson. “I’m proud to continue working with these partners to support crime victims and ensure every Kentuckian has what they to be safe and feel safe in our state.”
Applications must be submitted online by 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on February 13, 2026, via Intelligrants 10.0 (IGX), the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s electronic grants management system. Assistance with the application process may be obtained by contacting Grants Management staff at JUSIGX@ky.gov. Awards are expected to be announced in May, with the award date beginning July 1.
