Nicollet County proclaims National Crime Victims’ Rights Week as officials warn of funding threats

The Nicollet County Board of Commissioners proclaimed the week of April 2025 as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and recognized local victim‑services work, the county attorney said. The proclamation, included in the board packet, cites the county’s dedication to raising awareness of options and services for crime survivors; the board approved the proclamation by motion and voice vote.

During committee reports and follow-up comments, commissioners and staff warned the board about possible federal and state changes to Medicaid and to victim-service grant funding. Commissioner Dehen noted that potential federal- and state-level Medicaid reconsideration could affect organizations such as MRCI because Medicaid supports a large share of that agency’s funding. Staff and commissioners also raised the prospect of cuts to Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding and to CADAA (domestic violence and sexual assault support) funds, and asked the board to consider continued support for local positions that rely on those grants. County staff noted that the county’s victim‑services position (referred to in the record as Bonnie Peterson’s position) is largely grant funded with VOCA dollars.

The county attorney and staff emphasized the scope of recent local needs: in a roughly 12‑month period the county experienced three homicides, the county attorney said, and providing support to surviving family members was an important responsibility for the office. Commissioners urged continued advocacy for stable funding for victim services. The proclamation and the board’s discussion were recorded in the meeting packet and approved by voice vote.