RD255 - Report on Current and Projected Status of Federal, State and Local Funding for Victim/Witness Programs


Executive Summary:
Currently, there are 104 local grant funded Victim/Witness Programs and 4 statewide victim assistance programs. The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) uses federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds, Victim/Witness Special Funds, and General Funds to make grants to support these programs. Federal VOCA funds are awarded annually to Virginia, and federal fiscal year awards support programs in the following state fiscal year. For example, federal fiscal year 2011 (FFY2011) VOCA funds, awarded to Virginia in May 2011, are being utilized to support Victim/Witness Programs in State Fiscal Year 2012 (SFY2012).

Services provided by Victim/Witness Programs include explaining victims’ rights, assisting victims in obtaining protective orders, explaining and helping victims apply for compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund (CICF), notifying victims of case statuses, court dates, and prisoner statuses, explaining the criminal justice process, accompanying victims to court and criminal justice related meetings, assisting victims in preparing victim impact statements, providing crisis intervention, and providing case disposition information. Annually these programs typically provide direct services to over 60,000 crime victims.

While having three sources of funding has mitigated volatility in total grant awards, operational costs have increased over time, while grant awards have not kept pace. In fact, the SFY2012 total award is just 1.1% more than the amount awarded to programs in SFY2006. It is also clear that increases in federal funds over the last two years have been offset by the $465,000 decline in the General Fund appropriation and level allocations from the Victim/Witness Special Fund.

Federal Funding Outlook

Congress sets the VOCA appropriation level annually and the federal Office for Victims of Crime cannot yet provide information to DCJS regarding the amount of federal VOCA funds that will be available to Virginia in FFY2012. Recently, House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees have agreed on an appropriation level which, if adopted, may result in a decline in funding of approximately 3 percent, when compared to the FFY2011 allocations.

State Funding Outlook – General Funds and Special Funds

Due to the economic downturn, the General Fund appropriation supporting Victim/Witness Programs was reduced by $465,000 in SFY2011 and SFY2012 to $2,635,000. DCJS is hopeful that eventually an improving economy will allow restoration of the General Fund appropriation to $3.1 million.

The Victim/Witness Special Fund balance had been significantly depleted by SFY2008 in order to maintain local programs and the delivery of essential services when federal VOCA funds were insufficient and no General Funds had yet been appropriated. However, with the appropriation of $3.1 million dollars in General Funds beginning in SFY2008, and DCJS’ conservative approach to managing current obligations against the Victim/Witness Special Fund, the Fund operating balance has improved. Given current obligations and anticipated annual revenue collections, DCJS projects that Special Fund allocations can be maintained at the current level of approximately $3 million annually.

Local Funding Outlook

DCJS encourages allocation of local funds to support Victim/Witness Programs and maintain current staffing levels and the delivery of essential services. However, given current economic conditions, many programs have also seen declining local funding allocations. In fact, twenty-five percent (25%) of Victim/Witness Program Directors responding to a previous survey reported a decline in the percentage of their total budgets supported with local funds.

Conclusion

Victim/Witness Programs face challenges, given the uncertainty regarding the level of federal and state funding available, declining, uncertain, or inadequate local funding, and increasing costs of program operations.

The appropriation of General Funds beginning in SFY2008 averted a funding crisis and has stabilized the funding outlook for Victim/Witness Programs. However, the need for additional funding for Victim/Witness Programs also remains clear.