Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Victim Services And Access To Justice topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee restores funds for victim services, access to justice and Pathways reentry program
Summary
The committee recommended multi‑million-dollar restorations to victim services, Access to Justice, Pathways reentry supports and other community programs; members said gaps remain and urged the full Council to identify additional funds.
Committee Chair Brooke Pinto and committee members outlined several targeted restorations intended to preserve services for victims, returning citizens and vulnerable residents. Pinto said the committee supports $51,000,000 across the financial plan for victim services grants at the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants and invested $20,100,000 in justice grants to support returning citizens. She also said the committee identified $3,400,000 across the financial plan to restore paralegal and legal assistant positions at the Office of the Attorney General.
Several members urged further action at the full Council. Council Member Charles Allen highlighted the scale of cuts to the Access to Justice Initiative, stating that it "was cut by 86% from $31,600,000 down to $4,400,000," and said the reductions undermine legal representation for vulnerable residents. Council Member Donnie Crawford and others said Pathways and violence-interruption programs still face funding gaps and asked the Committee of the Whole to find additional support.
