VICTIM Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill creates a new federal grant program to help state, tribal, and local police departments solve more murders and gun-related violent crimes. The program would be run through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the Department of Justice.
• Grant money can be used to hire and train detectives, forensic technicians, and crime analysts, as well as to buy or upgrade investigative equipment and forensic testing technology. This targets the staffing and technology gaps that leave many violent crimes unsolved.
• A significant portion of the funding focuses on helping victims and their families. Grants can pay for emergency housing, food, clothing, travel, counseling, legal advice, and financial compensation for those affected by gun violence and homicide.
• Grant recipients must report annually on clearance rates, hiring data, technology purchases, and demographics of victims and suspects. The bill also requires civil rights safeguards and background checks on new hires through the National Decertification Index.
• The bill authorizes $60 million per year from 2027 through 2031, totaling $300 million over five years. At least 5% must go to tribal law enforcement and another 5% to rural agencies, ensuring smaller and underserved communities are not left out.