Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Victim Services Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Dane County board proclaims April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Crime Victims Rights Week; service providers warn of funding cuts
Summary
The Dane County Board adopted Resolution 3-96 recognizing April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Crime Victims Rights Week. Victim-service leaders told the board that local providers face budget cuts that threaten 24-hour crisis response and prevention programs.
The Dane County Board of Supervisors on April 2025 unanimously adopted Resolution 3-96 recognizing April 2025 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Crime Victims Rights Week.
The resolution, moved by Supervisor Laura Walsh and seconded by Supervisor Blazewitz, affirms Dane County’s commitment to "advancing policies and supporting local organizations and initiatives to prevent violence, uphold victims' rights, and ensure accessible, compassionate, and culturally responsive support for all survivors," and honors survivors’ resilience.
Why it matters: county and nonprofit leaders told the board they are seeing mounting need while budgets and prevention programs face cuts. The executive director of a local crisis center said reduced funding threatens 24-hour crisis response and could force survivors to choose between staying with perpetrators or becoming unhoused.
Dana Pellebon, executive director of RCC Violence Resource Center, told the board, "As the only 24 hour crisis response agency for victims of sensitive crimes, our ability to serve survivors is at risk." Pellebon said cuts could turn "gaps" in services "into chasms, where survivors are falling through the cracks of our system." She urged the county to pair a values resolution with budgetary priorities for victim services.
Amy Brown, director of Victim Witness Services in the Dane County District Attorney’s Office, said Marcy’s Law — the state constitutional change that expanded victims' rights — increased demand without additional state funding and that local investments have been critical. "In 2024, the Dane County victim witness unit provided services to just over 9,000 crime victims in 1 year," Brown said, adding that county action was necessary to meet the mandate created by that law.
Kim Curran of Dane County Multi-Agency Center, speaking from a clinical perspective, described long-term trauma impacts and said prevention and medical care require stable funding. "Every survivor deserves access to resources they need for healing, safe housing, counseling, legal support, and comprehensive medical care," Curran said, and warned that many providers operate on inadequate budgets.
The board’s resolution notes national and state statistics cited during remarks and urges community support for advocacy and services. The motion carried after a voice vote; the record shows the resolution was moved by Walsh and seconded by Blazewitz and approved as presented.
Speakers during the item included the resolution sponsors and representatives from county victim-service organizations and law enforcement who described gaps, service volumes, and prevention needs. Several speakers thanked County Executive Melissa Agard and Dane County Human Services staff for past local support.
The resolution is symbolic and directs county attention and advocacy; it does not itself appropriate funds. Speakers urged follow-up in budgeting and program support to sustain crisis response and prevention work.
Ending: The board adopted the proclamation and heard appeals from service providers for stronger, sustained funding to preserve 24-hour crisis response, prevention programs and the community supports that follow investigations and initial responses.
