Prosecutor warns Van Buren County of imminent loss of victim-witness coordinator after federal grant cut

Prosecuting Attorney Chad Brown told the Van Buren County Quorum Court that federal/state grant funding for the county's victim-witness coordinator position has been cut and that the county likely will lose local access to a coordinator unless alternative funding is found.

Brown said the position, filled locally by Penny Stringer (who provides victim and witness services for Van Buren and Searcy counties), had been funded historically through VOCA and related grants and that he had been notified the grant award supporting the position would be reduced to zero effective Sept. 30. "We were imminently about to lose the services of Penny, and she's just not gonna be able to be with us," Brown said.

Nut graf: Brown told the court the grant application pool at the state level requested $21 million and was awarded only $6 million; as a result, Van Buren’s share is zero in this cycle. He said Stringer’s salary is roughly $42,000–$43,000 and that her duties include notification of victims about case status, court hearings and available services. Brown said the office is exploring short-term options and may return with proposals to the court for how to preserve the role.

Brown described the coordinator’s functions as more than administrative: the coordinator is often the primary contact for victims of violent crime and coordinates between prosecutors, courts and service providers. Brown said the loss would be felt especially in serious violent cases and for victims who have been working with the coordinator for months leading up to trial.

Ending: Brown said staff will explore alternatives — including using victim-witness fund balances, seeking other grants or local funding — and return with ideas to the court at a future meeting. He cautioned that an immediate stop in the position’s services could disrupt upcoming trial schedules and victims’ ability to prepare for court.