Crime victim programs in Washington struggle as funding erodes

Groups that assist crime victims in Washington will look at reducing services as federal dollars remain down and funding in the state budget falls short filling the gap.

Since 2018, funding for crime victims has declined by more than 50%. The main funding source for victim services in Washington, the Victims of Crime Act State Plan, or VOCA, comes from fines, forfeited bonds and other financial penalties in certain federal cases.

Earlier this year, the funding was projected to be cut in half due to the state’s multibillion-dollar deficit, but the current budget maintains the funding at around $20 million per year.

“Unfortunately, it’s not enough, so we’re going to continue our fight,” said Kate Krug, CEO of the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center. “I think our network is the weakest that it’s ever been… because of the lack of resources that we now have available to us.”

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/07/17/crime-victim-programs-in-washington-struggle-as-funding-erodes/