(WNY News Now) – Washington D.C. – A bipartisan coalition of 41 Attorneys General, including representatives from New York and Pennsylvania, has penned a letter imploring Congress to approve vital 2024 bridge funding for the federal Crime Victims Fund (VOCA Fund). The plea underscores the crucial role the fund plays in supporting victims of crime and maintaining essential services.
In a united front, 41 Attorneys General, with New York and Pennsylvania among them, have appealed to Congress for urgent action to secure 2024 bridge funding for the Crime Victims Fund (VOCA Fund). The fund, established in 1984 by the Victims of Crime Act, serves as the primary financial lifeline for victim services across all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia, with significant financial contributions from offenders convicted of federal crimes.
The letter emphasizes the importance of the VOCA Fund in providing essential direct services and assistance for crime victims and survivors, including medical care, mental health counseling, lost wages, courtroom advocacy, and temporary housing. Despite the 2021 passage of the VOCA Fix Act, designed to supplement fund sources, it is noted as insufficient to address the looming crisis.
The current balance of the VOCA Fund, combined with proposed appropriations for FY24, suggests a potential 41% decrease in nationwide funding for victim services grants compared to 2023. The estimated $700 million cut poses a severe threat to victim assistance programs, potentially leading to closures and leaving victims without critical support.
The Attorneys General stress the need for short-term funding to sustain essential services while the fund is replenished through criminal fines, forfeited bail bonds, penalties, and special assessments. Failure to act promptly could result in the closure of victim service programs, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations in rural, underserved, or impoverished communities.
The bipartisan plea, supported by Attorneys General from diverse states and territories, calls on Congress to authorize immediate short-term funding. Such action is seen as crucial not only for victims’ well-being but also to maintain public safety by holding offenders accountable.
A copy of the letter can be found here
Leave a Reply