“Investing in the needs of crime survivors is an investment in public safety, public health, and community well-being. It must be a priority for California.”

Even in an era of political division, one of the most basic commitments we all share is to support survivors of crime and their families. But unless Governor Newsom and the state legislature take immediate action, we will fail this obligation, as funding for victim services will be slashed across California.

The federal Victims of Crime Act Fund (VOCA) is at the center of California’s response to supporting victims of crime, but as the fund’s balance has declined precipitously and Congress has reduced the amount released, the state’s allocation has been cut by 43 percent for the coming fiscal year. Local governments, law enforcement, and service providers rely on VOCA funds to provide resources to thousands of survivors every year, including counseling, rapid rehousing, legal services, crisis response, and other critical resources that support vulnerable individuals in the short and long term.

Without action from our state leaders, the federal cuts will lead to a huge shortfall in California. Programs will be forced to cut staff and reduce services, and some may even have to shut down entirely. The impacts of these cuts will fall hardest on smaller programs, communities that have been historically underserved, and rural programs. In 2022 alone, these programs supported more than 816,000 survivors across the state.

Yet, the governor’s recently revised budget proposal did not include the $200 million in one-time funding that experts say is needed to limit the potentially catastrophic impact these cuts will have on survivors of crime, including victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. We are not ignorant of the state’s financial position. But investing in the needs of crime survivors is an investment in public safety, public health, and community well-being. It must be a priority for California.