Ohio Rape Crisis Centers Lose up to 57% of VOCA Funding
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Created by the Reagan Administration, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant is comprised predominately from paid fines resulting from federal convictions. Ohio rape crisis centers essentially exist because of the VOCA grant, and both the federal and state governments rely on rape crisis centers to provide an essential constituent service. RCC reliance on VOCA is logical – governments historically rely on non-profits to fill voids for necessary constituent social services. Non-profit staff have local community knowledge and highly developed content area expertise, both of which allow for more effective and personalized services. It is also significantly less expensive for governments to fund local providers than to replicate such services across their full jurisdictions.
Unfortunately, as VOCA evaporated, Ohio voters passed Marsy’s Law, increasing the demand for crime victim advocacy. Further, the Ohio Attorney General and Governor’s offices have increased rape kit (consider changing term) testing and are seeking to increase human trafficking victim services. Thus, as state government initiatives increase the necessary number of advocates, programs have lost their main funding stream. Many must make huge staff cuts, while others will shut down completely.
While demand for services increases, Ohio rape crisis programs lost highly damaging amounts of funding. Here is a sample of the impact:
Ohio Rape Crisis Centers lost over $7 Million Dollars
3 Programs lost 100% of their VOCA funding.
2 Programs lost over 55%.
Many more lost 33% or higher.
In OAESV's statewide surveys and conversations, OAESV has learned that we will likely go back to pre-2013 county access levels, meaning that all progress sustained by the Rape Crisis Centers Line Item will be lost.
To avoid reducing services to approximately 40 counties, the Ohio legislature must increase the Rape Crisis Centers Line Item from $4.5 Million to $10 Million, which will provide sufficient funding for one additional advocate per county, allowing some salvaging of services while we advocate for a return to pre-2020 VOCA levels by our federal lawmakers.
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Victim agencies scramble after loss of federal funding
If you're fleeing an abusive relationship and need a place to stay, there's a hotline for that.If you're a crime victim and need help navigating the courts, there's a hotline for that.If you were sexually assaulted and need someone to talk to,...
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www.beaconjournal.com
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Grants to Ohio crime victim assistance programs cut by...
CLEVELAND, Ohio - More than $10 million in cuts to programs that serve victims of crime in Ohio means some local domestic violence survivors won't have an advocate by their side in court next year and newly-created centers to address trauma will...
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www.cleveland.com
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Join Rosa & Camille
Every Wednesday at 8:30 AM
on Facebook Live!
OAESV welcomes lawmakers, staff, and stakeholders to join OAESV for a weekly discussion about emerging impacts of the 22%-48% funding cuts applied to VOCA recipient rape crisis programs.
Each week, we will invite program directors, advocates, and other stakeholders to share insight, impact, and predictions about the state of rape crisis services in the coming grant cycle and next several years.
Join us Wednesday, October 21 featuring an in-depth look at the impact on agencies serving central Ohio counties.
https://www.facebook.com/oaesv/
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House Bill 518
Removes Noneconomic Damages Cap for Rape or Assault Victim
House Bill 518 would remove existing civil tort claim damage award caps in cases pursued by victims arising from rape, felonious assault, aggravated assault, assault, and negligent assault.
Sponsors: Representatives Boggs & Russo
Committee: House Civil Justice Committee
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Senate Bill 162 & House Bill 290
Removes Limits on Prosecuting & Proving Certain Sex Offenses
These companion bills seek to eliminate spousal exemptions from Rape, Sexual Battery, Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Gross Sexual Imposition, and Importuning, as well as remove the statute of limitations for 2907.02 Rape. Along with executive branch efforts to eliminate the rape kit backlog, this legislation is critical to achieving justice for all survivors.
Sponsors: Senators Antonio & O'Brien, Representatives Boggs & Galonski
Committee: House Criminal Justice, Senate Judiciary
Click Here for OAESV's Fact Sheet |
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Erin's Law - House Bill 321
Current law does not mandate education addressing the pervasive problems of sexual abuse and sexual violence. HB 321 would require sexual abuse prevention education in grades K-6, add sexual violence prevention education in grades 7-12, and require additional training for school personnel. Ohio is a regional outlier, as Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York have all passed Erin's Law. Erin's Law curriculum first appeared in public schools in 2009, and Ohio's legislation meets our individual state's needs for district expertise in crafting compliant lessons.
Sponsors: Representatives Lipps & Kelly
Committee: Primary & Secondary Education
Click here for OAESV's Fact Sheet |
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Advocate Privilege
Senate Bill 196 & House Bill 337
Current law does not protect communications between survivors of sexual violence, human trafficking, stalking, or domestic violence and advocates providing crisis services. Ohio is one of just 14 states without privileged
communications in these circumstances. This bill also clarifies mandatory reporting obligations for child abuse in the provision of crisis services, and creates an exemption
from the felony reporting statute for advocates serving these survivors, as is customary in the Ohio Revised Code for privilege holders.
Sponsors: Senator Eklund, Representatives Galonski & Stein
Committees: Senate Judiciary, House Criminal Justice
Click Here for OAESV's Fact Sheet |
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House Bill 310
Ohio Anti-Bullying & Hazing Act
House Bill 310 seeks to require school districts to adopt and implement policies prohibiting harassment (including sexual harassment), bullying, and intimidation. Under the bill, schools must provide for both victims and persons handed consequences opportunities for academic support, time to make up school work missed in the context of the harassment/intimidation/bullying, and counseling.
Sponsor: Representative Greenspan
Committee: Primary & Secondary Education
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For more information and to register, please visit our Training & Events Calendar here.
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A Dynamic Duo: Ethics & Decision-Making of Attorneys &...
Professional ethics and roles of advocates and attorneys with an additional emphasis on how bias plays a role in decision-making.
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www.oaesv.org
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OAESV's Legislative Newsletter is funded by a generous grant from the George Gund Foundation, a private Ohio non-profit
organization that has donated $722 million dollars since 1952 to projects that advance human welfare and society.
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