Amid deepening federal funding cuts to programs for crime victims, commonwealth’s attorneys gathered in Alexandria today (Wednesday) to listen to survivors’ stories.
The public officials attended the discussion at the National Organization of Victim Advocacy on 510 King Street. Among them were Steve Descano of Fairfax County, Parisa Dehghani-Tafti of Arlington and Falls Church and Remin Fatehi of Norfolk.
The discussion was organized by the Prosecutors Alliance, which is working with legislators in California, Virginia, Georgia and Colorado to replenish Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) program funding that has been significantly cut over several years. In California, the state legislature allocated $103 million in one-time funding last year to bridge a widening funding gap and prevent program closures.
Now, the organization wants Virginia legislators to do the same.
Fatimah Muwahhid, a survivor of domestic violence, said programmatic cuts to support services can leave crime victims feeling lost.
“When you cut things like that, it allows victims to feel like ‘Alice in Wonderland,'” Muwahhid said. “Like, where do I get my support?”
Prosecutors Alliance Director Robyn Sordelett said the General Assembly needs to have a line item in the state budget for victims services, including for victim witness advocates working under Commonwealth’s Attorneys. She said it could cost upward of $30 million annually.
“We’re seeing the unraveling of any sort of scaffolding for victim services in this country,” Sordelett said. “Now with this administration inserting language into grant conditions that won’t provide services to culturally specific groups, like trans folks, immigrant populations, undocumented people, you will lose funding.”
NaQuetta Mitchell, a nonprofit founder and domestic violence survivor, told officials about the financial burdens women can face when they escape domestic violence.
She previously moved from Texas to Virginia to live with her family after leaving her ex-husband, who was dishonorably discharged from the Army with post-traumatic stress disorder. He later remarried before killing his wife in a murder-suicide when she threatened to leave him, Mitchell said.
“If I didn’t have my family, I would have been stuck with him,” Mitchell said. “I wouldn’t have been able to leave. A lot of times when women are leaving domestic violence relationships, they are also victims of financial abuse. If you’re not working, you don’t have money, you can’t leave.”
Mitchell, who founded Women of Endurance, aims to support single mothers through advocacy, education and funding.
“It’s hard to find domestic violence organizations that support single moms when they’re trying to get back on their feet,” Mitchell said.
Descano said he has been reaching out to legislators in search of additional funding for victim support services.
“Virginia has always funded its criminal justice on the cheap,” Descano said. “Virginia doesn’t fund prosecutors to do misdemeanor cases. If you’re the victim of a misdemeanor crime, in most jurisdictions, it’s basically up to you to prosecute your case.”
While he didn’t name any legislators he has coordinated with, Descano said he is willing to talk with anybody who will listen.
“I think this funding should be permanent, because if you want to improve the justice system, really what you’re doing is building a culture,” Descano said. “It’s very difficult to do that in two to three years.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, resources are available to help you. Alexandria’s Domestic Violence Hotline is reachable at 703-746-4911. The Sexual Assault Hotline is reachable at 703-683-7273. Confidential crisis support is also available via RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Online Hotline.
