STATEHOUSE (Feb. 10, 2025) – State Rep. Julie Olthoff (R-Crown Point) filed legislation to allocate state funding for victim assistance grants to entities eligible under the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).
House Bill 1123 would establish a new fund for Indiana crime victims to supplement the federal VOCA grant program and help fill funding gaps.
"As a board member of the Fair Haven Rape Crisis Center, it pains me to think of having to reduce services and programing that make such an impact in my community due to financial limitations." Olthoff said. "This legislation would hopefully provide the additional support that victim organizations desperately need to keep their doors open and services available."
The U.S Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime allocated over $359 million, generated from fines and penalties from federal convictions, to over 7 million crime victims across the country in fiscal year 2023. Congress placed a cap on the fund in 2000 to try to stabilize it. The cap peaked at over $4 billion in 2018 but then started dropping. The fund's available amount decreased $700 million, or nearly 40%, last year. Olthoff said this decrease will leave many victim service providers in tough financial situations.
Her legislation would allocate $30 million in state funding over the next two years to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute to disburse to eligible organizations assisting crime victims.
House Bill 1123 is currently assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee for consideration. To learn more and follow legislative proceedings, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Julie Olthoff (R-Crown Point) represents House District 19,
which includes portions of Lake and Porter counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
