Committee recommends six‑month VOCA extension, approves $133,835 appropriation for victim advocates

The Jackson County Anti‑Crime Committee recommended Ordinance 6040 to the full legislature, approving a six‑month extension of a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant and an appropriation of $133,835 from the 2025 grant fund to support five victim advocate positions.

The extension was requested by the Missouri Department of Social Services, Sam Morris, chief of operations for the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, told the committee. Morris said the department changed its earlier plan for a three‑month extension and instead asked for a six‑month extension. “They now wanna do a 6 month,” Morris said, adding that the grant funds cover October through March and pay for five victim advocate positions.

Morris told the committee he had received unofficial notice that this could be the final extension and that the office would pursue a new grant going forward. The committee did not debate further and the chair called for a motion to perfect the ordinance; members voted in favor and the committee agreed to recommend Ordinance 6040 to the full legislature for perfection.

The committee’s action at the meeting was a recommendation to the full legislature; the transcript records the committee advancing the ordinance for perfection but does not record a final legislative vote. Details on the mover, seconder and individual vote names were not specified in the committee record.