Area advocates react to loss of crime victim funds

YOUNGSTOWN

Local reaction to a Congressional raid on a crime victims’ assistance fund to achieve a federal budget deal ranges from concern to condemnation.

The two-year budget agreement Congress approved last month to prevent a partial federal government shutdown diverted $1.5 billion from the Crime Victims’ Fund to the general government treasury.

Created by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) of 1984, the Crime Victims Fund consists of monies collected from federal fines, fees and settlements.

Due to settlements paid by companies and banks in response to U.S. Department of Justice investigations, that fund grew from $3 billion to $12 billion between 2009 and 2014, according to the DOJ.

“If they reduce our VOCA funds, it is going to put all of the victims’ services programming at risk, including our Sojourner House domestic violence shelter, our rape crisis services and the legal advocacy that we do on behalf of our victims,” said Joseph Caruso, president and chief executive officer of Compass Family and Community Services.

Compass, which has Youngstown and Warren offices, is receiving $341,294 in VOCA funding for 2016.

Help Hotline’s associate director, Cathy Grizinski, was more blunt.

“It’s just another revictimization of people who are already suffering great losses in their life,” said Grizinski.

Read more remarks by victim advocates and area officials in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.