RD386 - Annual Report on Domestic and Sexual Violence in Virginia (2005-2006)


Executive Summary:
Virginia can be proud of its efforts to enhance its support for programs and services that assist victims and prosecute offenders of sexual and domestic violence. In its first full year, the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Victim Fund provided almost three million dollars to Commonwealth’s Attorneys, domestic violence programs, and sexual assault crisis centers. Moreover, victims now have a convenient new way to prepare protective order petitions. The I-CAN!™ system ensures that petitions are formatted properly and contains all the necessary information to file the petition.

Despite these successes, the Commonwealth endured cuts in federal funding during this period. The V-STOP program significantly reduced funding for grant recipients and four grants were cut in their entirety. In addition, several rural communities lost funding for safety response liaisons when the discretionary Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant was not continued.

Considering these losses of federal funding, partnerships between state agencies, non-profit organizations, local governments, and corporate leaders have become ever more important in combating sexual and domestic violence in Virginia. A great example of a corporation’s commitment to combating this pervasive problem is Verizon Wireless, which continued its support to domestic violence organizations by awarding over $100,000 in grants in November 2006. These funds, in addition to the support provided by federal, state, and local sources, will go a long way in providing crucial services to victims of sexual and domestic violence.

Of course, funding for victims services is only part of the answer. A strong law enforcement response is necessary to reduce the number of victims and ensure off ender accountability. Statistical data on crimes against family and dating partners have shown progress in some areas. Violent crimes committed against family and dating partners decreased from 4,684 in 2002 to 3,632 in 2005. Nevertheless, reported forcible sex crimes against spouses and ex-spouses rose 31% from eighty-six (86) in 2004 to one hundred and thirteen (113) in 2005.

Information from Virginia’s Vadata (data collection) system also reveals mixed results. For the first time since 2000, the number of victims served at our domestic violence programs and sexual assault crisis centers decreased. Still, many victims each year are turned away from Virginia’s domestic violence shelters because of a lack of bed space.

Initiatives to educate the public and allied professionals about sexual and domestic violence continued during 2005-2006. Several state agencies and other organizations like the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance have developed targeted public awareness and outreach campaigns to enlist every member of every community in the fight against sexual and domestic violence.

These efforts, in addition to all the efforts detailed in this Annual Report, make clear that working together, we can continue to make progress in the battle against sexual and domestic violence.