Crook County DA warns deep VOCA funding cuts will hit victim services

District Attorney Carrie Hawthorne told the Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 17, 2025, that Crook County will face a substantial reduction in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funding next fiscal year, a change she said will materially affect local victim-services and child‑abuse advocacy centers.

Hawthorne said the county historically received about $190,000 per two-year VOCA cycle to fund victim‑assistance positions and services. She told the board the upcoming allocation for Crook County is just under $40,000 for the next fiscal year, noting she had budgeted roughly $76,000 and will need to reallocate internally for the immediate year but that the long-term outlook is “in real trouble” unless the legislature addresses eligibility or funding.

Hawthorne explained the change stems from how VOCA funds are distributed and noted Oregon’s current eligibility situation under federal rules: she stated the state’s circumstances mean counties cannot apply directly in the same way other states do, and that unspent prior dollars are being used to cover allocations in the short term. She said a sustained fix will require legislative action or a national change in how VOCA funds are allocated.

Hawthorne asked commissioners to support outreach to the state Legislature and related associations, including sharing bullet points and joining contacts with the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) and Eastern Oregon county organizations. Commissioner Barney offered to help prepare a letter and suggested raising the issue at an upcoming AOC district meeting.

Hawthorne said the cuts will also reduce funding for child‑abuse advocacy centers and other trauma‑informed services that rely on VOCA dollars. She described victim‑assistance staff as on-call 24/7 and urged the board to help elevate the issue to state policymakers.