Problems Funding Victim Services: Efforts to Create a System that Is Adequate, Stable, and Impactful

• In Event: Strategies and Challenges in Providing Support to Victims

Abstract

With recent cuts to federal funding for victim services, states are faced with developing strategies to ensure core services are consistently available. While federal funding opportunities have often shaped the landscape of victim services at the state level, the instability of that funding creates an opportunity, and imperative, for states to take responsibility for ensuring the adequacy and quality of services. This study is comprised of interviews (n=20) with all members of a newly formed, state-level, victim services commission, tasked with creating a funding strategy, and strategic priorities, for victim services. Commission members are appointed by the governor and include non-profit agencies, criminal justice stakeholders, and administrators from state human service agencies. Results show there is fragmentation--by geographic region, crime type, and agency--in the allocation of funding. In addition, stakeholders spoke to the impact on collaborative service provision and relationships when operating in a competitive grant driven funding landscape. Participants also indicated a need for creating processes, responsibility, service standard, and expected impacts of services. However, there are differences across stakeholders regarding who should have authority to make those decisions. Findings support the need for the development of sustainable funding formulas and mechanisms in addition to a unified funding system.

Authors

• Christian Sarver, University of Utah

• Mariah Cowell Mercier, University of Utah