State of Iowa Office of the Attorney General

Selection Process

Selection Process for Competitive Grants

 The Section will “conduct a preliminary review of each application to ensure that the applicant is eligible, the application is complete, and the proposed services are consistent with the section’s mission of providing quality assistance to crime victims and crime victim programs throughout the state.” IAC 61—9.57.
 

  1.  “In selection of competitive applicants, the program uses generally accepted methods of grant review, including but not limited to checklists; quality scales; written comments by application review committee members; and formulas based on past funding, population, clients served and available funds.” IAC 61—9.57(1).
  2. “In selection of competitive applications, the program shall establish an application review committee, selected solely by the section staff. The committee shall submit recommendations for funding awards to the chief. The chief shall submit to the board the recommendations of the application review committee and any alternative recommendations by the program staff. Review committee members must sign conflict of interest forms, ensuring their reviews and recommendations are free from conflict or bias.” IAC 61—9.57(2).
  1. “The application review committee shall be comprised of representatives from the victim assistance board and experts in the fields of victim services, funding administration and management, and criminal justice.” IAC 61—9.57(2)(a).
  2. “The program shall provide the committee with information related to an applicant’s performance with previous awards, the quality and quantity of services provided, and community support for an applicant.” IAC 61—9.57(2)(b).
  3. “The committee shall review the contents of the applications and information provided by the section and members of the committee regarding an applicant and the geographical area to be served.” IAC 61—9.57(2)(c).
  4. All reviewers on the committee will be screened for possible conflicts of interest and must submit a conflict of reviewer form. 
  1. The Victim Assistance Board “shall consider the recommendations of the application review committee and the chief to determine final competitive awards to the extent that funds are available and to the extent to which applications meet the application criteria. The board may reject any or all applications.” IAC 61—9.57(3).

Notification of applicants. “Applicants will be notified within 90 days after the application due date whether the application has been denied or approved” by the Victim Assistance Board. If the applicant is approved, the notification will also include the amount funded. IAC 61—9.58.

Requests for reconsideration. If an applicant is notified that it was denied for a grant or is approved for an amount of funding that is different than the amount the applicant applied for, it “may file with the board a request for reconsideration”. IAC 61—9.59(1).

  1. An appropriate request for reconsideration will meet the following requirements:
  1. “The request for reconsideration must be submitted within ten working days of the date the notice of decision is mailed or otherwise issued by the section to the applicant.” IAC 61—9.59(1).
  2. “The request must be in writing and state grounds for reconsideration. The grounds for reconsideration the board shall consider are limited to the following: victim assistance misconduct, ineffective review processes, disparities in funding, or miscalculation of funding amounts. The appeals process is not an opportunity to resubmit an application or to provide additional information for consideration.” IAC 61—9.59(1).
  1. Requests for reconsideration will be reviewed by the Victim Assistance Board in a timely manner, and its decision “shall constitute final agency action.” IAC 61—9.59(1).
  2. If the request for reconsideration may affect other approved applicants, they will receive “notice that a request for reconsideration has been filed”, and funds will not be disbursed until the request for reconsideration is resolved. IAC 61—9.59(2) and (3).

Laws and statutes related to victim assistance programming and services in Iowa  

Iowa Administrative Code - Chapter 9 victim assistance program 

Iowa Chapter 13 - Department of Justice; see subchapter III, 13.31 for the victim assistance program 

Iowa Chapter 236 - Domestic Abuse Act

Iowa Chapter 236A  - Sexual Abuse Act

Iowa Chapter 915. 20 - Victim Rights Act; see 915.20 and 915.20A for presence of victim counselors and victim counselor privilege

Quick Exit
© 2026 State of Iowa Office of the Attorney General. All rights reserved.