Colorado Crime Victims Lose Out After Raid On Federal Crime Victims Fund
DENVER (CBS4) - Crime victims in Colorado have become victims of a budget deal in Washington, D.C. Congress and President Barack Obama are taking more than a billion dollars designated for victims to pay for spending increases.
The money is generated from fines criminals pay and victims are supposed to receive. The federal Crime Victims Fund helps with everything from safe houses for domestic violence survivors to counseling for abused children. Colorado was to receive $32 million this year. It could now get as little as $8 million.
At Jefferson County's Ralston House they see some of the state's most horrific cases -- children who've been abused, tortured and traumatized.
"These are tough cases," Ralston House Executive Director Don Mosely said.
Mosely says they conduct forensic interviews and exams on 1,100 children a year, but can only afford four victim advocates. As a nonprofit Ralston House counts on funding from the federal Crime Victims Fund.
"Each year we worry about what will happen when there's a budget deal," Mosely said.
This year, for the first time in more than a decade, Ralston House and more than 100 other victims service organizations in Colorado were expecting an increase in funding due to big settlements with banks. But the president and Congress raided the fund for $1.5 billion to pay for other spending.
"(These) are not tax dollars, these were dollars generated through criminal fees intended for this and earmarked for that," Mosely said.
"And all of sudden we get caught in a crunch that's about politics and budget and not about concern for our most vulnerable, innocent citizens," said victim advocate Steve Siegel.
Siegel has worked in victim services in Colorado for 40 years and says there are waiting lists throughout the state for safe houses, counseling and emergency services.
"You can't go to a victim and say, 'This tragedy happened in your house on Monday, come back and see me next Monday,'" Siegel said.
While the budget deal was bipartisan, Colorado's congressional delegation voted party-line. Democrats supported the deal saying it was needed to avoid a government shutdown. Republicans opposed it saying victims shouldn't have to pay for increased government spending.
Sen. Cory Gardner has co-sponsored legislation that would prevent the president and Congress from using the money for anything other than victims in the future.
