The VICTIM Act of 2026 directs the Attorney General to establish a new federal grant program to help state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies improve their clearance rates for homicides and firearm-related violent crimes. Law enforcement agencies can use the grants to hire and train investigators and forensic specialists, purchase advanced investigative technology, develop data analysis programs, and provide support services to crime victims and their families. The bill also requires grant recipients to check the backgrounds of new hires through national law enforcement accountability databases and to submit detailed annual reports on their progress, including demographic information about victims and suspects.
The legislation authorizes $60 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with at least 5 percent of funds reserved each year for tribal law enforcement agencies and another 5 percent for rural agencies. Grant recipients must undergo audits conducted by the Department of Justice's Inspector General, and those found to have misused funds face exclusion from future grants. The Attorney General must also establish a streamlined application process that takes no more than two hours to complete and commission independent evaluations every two years to assess which practices most effectively improve clearance rates and support crime victims.
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