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OREGON CITY, Or. -- Programs across Oregon that assist victims of crime or domestic violence face an immediate and drastic loss of funding. Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth, along with others concerned about the impact of the funding crisis, addressed the problem at a news conference Monday. Wentworth is also the President of the Oregon District Attorney's Association.
The following is his statement:
“I am not one who engages in hyperbole. This is a fact: We are standing on the edge of a catastrophic failure in our duty to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities: the victims of crime. A federally created funding crisis has landed on our doorstep, and if we don’t act, the people we represent will pay the price.
“The federal Victims of Crime Act fund, or VOCA, has been the primary funding source for nearly 150 victim service providers across Oregon for decades. This is the money that keeps the lights on at domestic violence shelters. It pays for the specially trained advocates at Children’s Advocacy Centers who provide a safe space for abused children to describe the unspeakable. It funds the court advocates who guide terrified victims through a confusing and intimidating justice system.
“I want you to consider the plight of a mother who finally finds the courage to pack a bag, grab her children, and flee an abusive home in the middle of the night. Where will she go? VOCA funding is a lifeline that pays for crucial services for her and thousands of others. It is the warm, reassuring voice on the other end of the 24/7 crisis line. It's the domestic violence service that provides a safety plan and a bed in a shelter. It's the victim advocate who helps her file a restraining order so she can finally start a new, safe life. When we cut this funding, we are cutting her lifeline. We are sending her, and her children, back into the dark, back into danger.
“Now, that funding is being eliminated, ripping an enormous hole in Oregon’s public safety net.
“This isn't an abstract budget problem. This is a human crisis. In my own office, I face cutting more than half of my victim advocate positions. These are the dedicated professionals who ensure a victim’s voice is heard in court and that their rights are protected. All over the state, organizations like Clackamas Women’s Services have already reduced staff, and cut essential programs.
“Let me be clear about what that means. When you cut victim services, you are choosing to have more crime.
“A victim without support is a victim who cannot testify. A survivor without a safe place to go is a survivor who is forced to return to their abuser. When victims cannot participate in the justice process, cases fall apart. Abusers walk free. Violent offenders remain on our streets. The cycle of violence accelerates, and we all become less safe.
“Justice has never been just about convicting the guilty. It is equally about supporting the innocent.
“This crisis was not of Oregon’s making, but the solution must be, and multiple avenues to that solution must be pursued.
“Funding victim services is a moral imperative. For 40 years, we have made a promise to victims: You are not alone. We will help you.
“We cannot let 2025 be the year Oregon breaks that promise.”
The following statement is from the Oregon District Attorneys Association:
Providers of Critical Victim Services Call for State Emergency Funding Help
Oregon City - Today Oregon's District Attorneys called on the Oregon Legislature to convene an Emergency Board meeting to backfill Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding.
"We call on the Emergency Board to take immediate action to maintain critical services through the 2025 fiscal year. Without swift intervention, domestic violence programs, sexual assault advocates, Children's Advocacy Centers, and District Attorney Victim Assistance Offices across Oregon face devastating cuts and layoffs. These essential services form the backbone of support for crime victims-cuts not only threaten their safety and rights, but also weaken the well-being of our entire community. When we stand with victims, we strengthen Oregon" said John Wentworth, District Attorney of Clackamas County and President of the Oregon District Attorneys Association.
"Oregon must put crime victims first by guaranteeing access to vital services-such as safe shelter for those escaping domestic violence, forensic exams for children seeking protection and justice, and guidance to help survivors navigate the criminal justice system," said Kevin Barton, District Attorney of Washington County.
Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson, said "Oregon's victim support systems are on the brink of collapse, and swift action from lawmakers is crucial to preserve them. We're already seeing staff layoffs, reduced services, and fewer resources for survivors. Lawmakers must act now to stop further harm."
Oregon's victim service providers were recently notified that they could anticipate as much as 80% reductions in pass-through funding starting immediately. The new federal application requirements for Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding in 2025 and 2026 include stipulations with which DOJ cannot comply with due to ORS 181A.826 (2021 Sanctuary Promise Act (H 3265, 2021).