Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Victim Services Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State allocates $12 million to shore up crime-victim services amid federal cuts
Summary
Senator Claire Umu Verbaten said the legislature funded a $12,000,000 gap identified by the Office of Justice Programs to prevent shelter closures and preserve advocates, noting the decline in federal support has been ongoing.
Senator Claire Umu Verbaten said federal funding for crime-victim services has declined over multiple administrations and the Office of Justice Programs identified a $12,000,000 funding gap this year. Lawmakers allocated state funds this session to cover that shortfall.
"We received information from the office of justice programs this year that the gap that we were facing for crime victim services was $12,000,000," Umu Verbaten said. She described the funding as essential to preventing shelter closures and avoiding the loss of local advocates, particularly in Greater Minnesota, and said the legislature must pursue a stable, ongoing funding source in future sessions.
Advocates and sponsors said the infusion is intended to keep life-saving services running while lawmakers consider a sustainable funding plan.
