Domestic and Sexual Violence in Virginia - Virginia Attorney General

Funding Sourcesand GrantProgramsFunding for state and local programs that provideservices to victims and enhance prosecution andlaw enforcement efforts in domestic and sexual violencecases is critical in the effort to combat domestic andsexual violence in our communities. As funding fromboth federal and state sources continues to decrease,however, state and local agencies that rely upon thosefunding sources must seek alternate funding sources, ormust make difficult decisions regarding the services thatcan be provided to victims of sexual and domestic violence.A substantial source of federal funding for all states is theVictims of Crime Act (VOCA). VOCA funding, administeredin Virginia by the Department of Criminal JusticeServices (DCJS), supports domestic and sexual violenceprograms, victim-witness programs, and programs thatprovide services to child victims. In FY 2008, federalVOCA funding to Virginia was drastically cut by 17%,representing the lowest amount of VOCA funding distributedto Virginia in more than eight years. (Figure 10)Federal funds awarded to states through the Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors (STOP) Violence AgainstWomen Formula Grant Program (STOP Program)administered by the Office on Violence Against Womenalso decreased in FY 2008. Despite a slight increase infunding predicted for FY 2009, overall, federal STOPProgram funds to Virginia have continuously decreasedsince FY 2000. (Figure 11)The overall funding to local and statewide programs isexpected to decrease in the coming year. In addition toother likely decreases in federal funding, in FY 2009, theoverall award from the Department of Social Services(DSS) to local and statewide domestic violence programswill decrease by more than 3%. Unfortunately, due toSource: Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services8