Victim service agencies and victim advocates across the country are urging the Senate to pass VOCA Fix legislation before Congress recesses in August, and latest indications are that lawmakers may have reached a deal to finally move the bill to President Joe Biden’s desk.
The Crime Victims Fund, established by the Victims of Crime Act or VOCA, supports victim services but the size of the fund has dropped substantially in recent years. The fund’s depletion jeopardizes the future of domestic violence shelters, organizations like VFJ, STAR, AWAIC, and others in Alaska and across the nation that assist victims with needs such as lost wages, health care costs and other compensation.
The Crime Victims Fund consists of non-taxpayer money stemming from fees and penalties paid by those convicted of federal crimes. As criminal convictions by the Justice Department have declined due to a rise in out-of-court settlements, non-prosecution agreements and deferred prosecutions, the size of the Crime Victims Fund has plummeted. That’s because money generated by out-of-court settlements is deposited into the U.S. Treasury, not the Crime Victims Fund. As a result, grants for victim services have been cut by two-thirds compared to three years ago, and victim service providers are facing major financial threats.
Legislation to fix the situation cleared the House of Representatives months ago but has stalled in the Senate. The VOCA Fix bill doesn’t change how federal tax money is spent. It provides a technical fix by directing additional non-taxpayers dollars from criminal monetary penalties into the fund.
According to Roll Call, Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate last Wednesday reached an agreement to take up the bill. The article quotes sources as saying a vote is expected next week.
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