Massive cuts to Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding this year threaten vital support for millions of Americans after experiencing crimes caused against them. These funding cuts jeopardize the very programs that help victims heal and rebuild their lives, including civil legal aid services.

VOCA, funded through the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), provides critical services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and other crimes. These funds support legal aid services, rape crisis centers, counseling, shelters, and more. For many victims, VOCA represents a lifeline, a beacon of hope in the aftermath of trauma.

However, there is a 40% cut to VOCA funding for 2024, which will be devastating. This cut translates to millions fewer dollars reaching the organizations on the frontlines, the very ones holding victims’ hands as they navigate the legal system, seek medical attention, or simply try to pick up the pieces.

According to End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, there were 96 victims of domestic violence in Wisconsin last year. A 2022 report shows those homicides happened in 25 counties, with around 49% in rural areas and 51% in urban areas. Additional domestic violence statistics from the Violence Policy Center’s “When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 2020 Homicide Data” show that Wisconsin ranks eighth in the nation for the number of women killed by men in 2020, with 60 women murdered.

The consequences of these cuts are far-reaching and deeply concerning:

• Reduced services: Organizations will be forced to cut back on vital programs, leaving many victims without access to the support they desperately need.
• Increased wait times: With fewer resources, already overburdened organizations will struggle to meet the demand, leading to longer wait times for essential services.
• Vulnerable populations at risk: The most vulnerable victims, including children, the elderly, and those in rural communities, will be disproportionately affected by these cuts.
• Erosion of trust: These cuts send a message of indifference, a betrayal of the promise that victims deserve support and justice.

We must protect our communities and ensure that every victim has access to the resources they need to heal and move forward.

Donate to the Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund today so Disability Rights Wisconsin, Judicare Legal Aid, and Legal Action of Wisconsin don’t need to turn victims of crime away from crucial, sometimes lifesaving, legal aid services. And help us spread this domestic abuse awareness message by sharing it broadly.