Grants

Victim-Offender Dialogue Program Grants:

Victim-Offender Dialogue (VOD) Program Grants offers funding to eligible nonprofit organizations to provide facilitation services within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) VOD program. Eligible nonprofit organizations are those currently offering VOD facilitation in correctional settings, whose experience or established program has demonstrated success and focus on offender responsibility, victim healing and restorative justice principles. The funding is designed to help maintain and increase the number of facilitators to sustain quality and restorative justice opportunities for California crime victims.

Victim-Offender Dialogue Program:

The Victim-Offender Dialogue (VOD) is a victim-centered, offender-sensitive facilitated preparation and dialogue process typically involving victims or the surviving family members, the offender who committed the offense and a facilitator. VOD supports personal justice and healing by empowering victims to meet with the offender in a safe and secure environment and address the personal impacts of crime. VOD also encourages interested offenders to express remorse, develop empathy and accept full responsibility for the harm caused to the victims and their family. The VOD facilitator will arrange individual preparatory meetings over the course of several months with the victim and offender separately to prepare them for the face-to-face meeting. For more information on the VOD program, visit the CDCR OVSRS website: https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/victim-services/vod/

Eligibility:

Eligible nonprofit organizations are those currently offering Victim-Offender Dialogue facilitation in correctional settings, whose experience or established program has demonstrated success and focus on offender responsibility, victim healing and restorative justice principles.

Request for Applications (RFA):

To complete the RFA, please click here to request a copy of the RFA Packet. The application will include the following documents:

• VOD RFA Packet with appendix A-D
• Appendix E: Payee Date Record (STD 204) And Supplement Vendor Payee Data Record Form
• Appendix F: Victim-Offender Dialogue Operational Guidelines

Important Dates:

• August 8, 2023 – Applicant Conference Call
• August 15, 2023 – Notice of Intent to Apply Due Date
• August 28, 2023 – Application Due Date

VOD Grant Contact Information:

The CDCR staff cannot assist the applicant with the actual preparation of the application. Any questions concerning the RFA, the application process, or programmatic issues should be submitted by email to:

Brooklynn Van Dusen, VOD Coordinator
Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services
Email: Brooklynn.VanDusen@cdcr.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 247-6364

Irene Velasco, VOD Coordinator
Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services
Email: Irene.Velasco@cdcr.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 247-7392