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# Summary of H.R. 8746: VICTIM Act of 2026 This bill directs the Attorney General to establish a grant program providing federal funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to improve their ability to solve homicides and firearm-related violent crimes. The program, housed within the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, will support eligible law enforcement agencies in hiring investigators and forensic specialists, acquiring crime-solving technology and equipment, training personnel, and improving investigative practices. Grant recipients can use funds for a broad range of activities aimed at increasing clearance rates, including developing new investigative strategies, analyzing crime trends, supporting traumatized officers, and providing comprehensive victim services such as emergency housing, counseling, and legal assistance. The bill also requires grant recipients to implement policies protecting civil rights during evidence collection and to conduct background checks on new hires using national law enforcement databases. The bill authorizes $60 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with at least 5 percent set aside for tribal law enforcement agencies and 5 percent for rural agencies. Grant recipients must submit detailed annual reports on their activities and clearance rate improvements, and the Justice Department's Inspector General will conduct regular audits. The National Institute of Justice will evaluate the program's effectiveness every two years and report findings to Congress. The Attorney General must also develop a streamlined grant application process that eligible agencies can complete in approximately two hours.

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