JUNEAU, AK (July 22, 2021) – Following the Senate’s unanimous passage of H.R. 1652 (S. 611) VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 (VOCA Fix Act) yesterday, the bill has been signed into law by United States President Joe Biden. For the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) and other Alaska tribes, this was a monumental victory.
The VOCA Fix Act saves and rebuilds a vital federal funding source essential to addressing Alaska’s lack of available services for victims. The funding is not only critical for victim service organizations in Alaska and across the nation, but also for Alaska tribes who have been developing support and advocacy services to aid victims and address the increase in child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault cases in Alaska and growing demand for services.
“The passage of the VOCA Fix Act is key to our victim services,” shared Tlingit & Haida’s Tribal Court Chief Justice Lisa Lang. “This is a much-needed resource for Alaska tribes and is truly aligned with our tribal core values, self-determination and sovereignty. It will serve as a foundation to begin the process of healing for victims and will also serve to begin the collective healing for our communities and all of Alaska. We stand united with Senator Murkowski and the advocates who worked so diligently on this legislation. We pause to give our heartfelt gratitude for their advocacy and for providing access to this funding for vital services.”
Before the VOCA Fix Act, funds in the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) had decreased dramatically, leading to a significant cut to VOCA victim assistance grants that provide lifesaving resources to victims. Without the VOCA Fix Act, victim service providers, including 30 organizations in Alaska, were at risk of losing crucial funds to keep services running and doors open.
The new law will restore billions of federal dollars in victim services funding under the CVF. Specifically, it will fix how the CVF is funded and re-direct new funds such as deposit penalties and fines from non-prosecution and deferred prosecution agreements.
“The hard work of many years and many survivors, advocates and tribal leaders is recognized in the passage of the VOCA Fix Act,” shared Tlingit & Haida Seattle Delegate and former Chief Justice Michelle Demmert. “The tribal provisions will allow us to continue building critical programs and infrastructure to support crime victims with the assurance the funds will be available year to year. We are one step closer to a permanent fix that moves us toward more equitable inclusion in governmental funding for our tribal citizens.”
Tlingit & Haida has been working to establish comprehensive services for tribal citizens who have been victims of crime. Efforts have surrounded developing a quick response referral system, providing effective advocacy services, including short-term support services that facilitate emotional stabilization for victims, and ensuring staff receive ongoing training and technical assistance. Most recently, the Tribe has been working to develop and implement a culturally appropriate approach to addressing crimes committed against tribal citizens. Work includes the development of services available to all tribal citizens regardless of their location, the establishment of a Seattle-based Child Welfare office, planning for an Anchorage-based Child Welfare office, as well as expanded services provided to Elders experiencing victimization and increased staffing available to tribal citizens in Southeast Alaska.
“Recognizing Alaska has the highest per capita crime rate in the country and the unique circumstances of Alaska’s geographical and jurisdictional landscape, this funding is critical to our communities to build the local support and response systems we need to have in place to ensure our tribal citizens have access to the services they need,” said Tlingit & Haida President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson.
VOCA was enacted in 1984 and established the CVF which was funded only through the collection of criminal fines, forfeited appearance bonds, penalties, and assessments. Unlike state and territorial governments, tribal governments did not receive an annual allocation from the CVF to help crime victims in their communities. Prior to the establishment of tribal set-aside funding, tribes were only able to access these funds via pass-through grants from states or by competing for limited resources administered by the Department of Justice.
