Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program Serves Victims of Domestic and International Terrorism and Mass Violence

The Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP) is supported through the Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve, which provides funding through a discretionary grant process. State victim assistance and victim compensation programs, public agencies (including federal, state, and local governments), and victim service and nongovernmental organizations are eligible to apply.

An incident qualifies as mass violence if it is an intentional, violent crime; the FBI or other law enforcement agency opens an investigation; and it results in widespread physical, emotional, or psychological injury severe enough to increase the burden on local victim services to the extent that other victims in the jurisdiction will not be served, or that responding will create undue financial hardship. More about the program, eligibility, and allowed expenditures.

Through AEAP, OVC provides assistance to communities reeling from terrorist attacks and other cases of mass violence. There is no minimum or maximum award, and all applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. AEAP grants offer five categories of assistance:

• Crisis response grants (emergency/short term, up to 9 months after the incident) provide funds to help victims build adaptive capacities, decrease stressors, and reduce symptoms of trauma immediately following the event.
  
  
• Consequence management grants (ongoing/longer term, up to 18 months after the incident) provide supplemental funding to help victims recover from the traumatic event and restore their sense of equilibrium.
  
  
• Criminal justice support grants (ongoing/longer term, up to 36 months after the incident) facilitate victim participation in an investigation or prosecution related to the incident.
  
  
• Crime victim compensation grants (available anytime in the aftermath of a crisis) provide supplemental funds to state crime victim compensation programs to reimburse victims for out-of-pocket expenses related to victimization.
  
  
• Training and technical assistance grants (available anytime in the aftermath of a crisis) and nonmonetary assistance (e.g., providing training through consultants) help federal, state, and local authorities identify victim needs, coordinate services, develop response strategies, and address related issues.

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