102 organizations and projects receive funding to provide critical services, obtain justice and keep Kentuckians safe
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 29, 2024) – Furthering his commitment to public safety and ensuring victims of crime receive critical services and obtain justice, Gov. Andy Beshear today awarded $14.9 million in grant funding to 102 organizations and projects covering the commonwealth’s 120 counties.
Since taking office in 2019, the Beshear-Coleman administration has awarded more than $147 million in grant funding to victim service agencies and provided victim services to approximately 314,000 Kentuckians.
“Team Kentucky is working tirelessly to ensure every resource possible is available to crime victims on their journey to healing and obtaining justice,” Gov. Beshear said. “This federal funding is critical to building a better Kentucky and we will continue be there every step of the way for our fellow Kentuckians.”
Today’s awards are administered from the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant program. VOCA funding prioritizes services to victims of child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence. Funding can also serve survivors of homicide and victims of burglary, theft, drug and alcohol-related crime and elderly victims and adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse or assault. VOCA funds are replenished each year through fines, forfeited bail bonds, penalties and special assessments collected from federal offenders by U.S. Attorneys’ offices, federal U.S. courts and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. No tax money supports the Crime Victim’s Fund.
“When law enforcement, nonprofit organizations, prosecutors and health care providers come together to support their fellow Kentuckians, it sends a clear message to offenders that our commonwealth will not stand for crime,” said Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Keith Jackson. “I look forward to seeing the good work that will be accomplished with this grant funding, and the administration will be there every step of the way to not only ensure delivery but care for those who are providing these critical services.”
For a full list of 2024-2025 award recipients, click here. Leaders from several organizations explained how these funds allow them to better serve their clients through medical services, enhanced law enforcement response and restorative justice.
To continue ensuring therapeutic treatment and clinical care is available to young girls who are victims of child abuse, Maryhurst has been awarded $139,000 in grant funding.
"Victims of Crime Act funding is a testament to the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet team’s ongoing commitment to supporting survivors in Kentucky," Maryhurst CEO and President Paula Garner said. "As resources and attention very rightfully expand in the realm of prevention and early intervention, VOCA is an important remembrance of those with existing histories of trauma. For Maryhurst, this funding powers technology that allows us to provide individualized therapeutic services to Kentucky’s children and families at pace with emerging standards of care."
The University of Louisville (UofL) has received $108,508 to hire additional social workers, nurse managers and shift coordinators as well as train nurses to provide forensic exams for victims of domestic and intimate partner violence.
“VOCA grant funding supports the expansive services we offer intimate partner violence victims at UofL Hospital. Funding allows us to provide additional layers of support for victims that can help them escape life threatening abuse,” said UofL Health SAFE Services Director Amanda Corzine. “We are grateful to the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for supporting victims of violence in our community.”
More than $77,000 has been awarded to Volunteers of America (VOA) to expand their restorative justice program between juvenile offenders and victims, conduct assessments of juveniles and develop case management plans with a goal of providing victims of crime with an alternative to the traditional criminal justice process, as well as holding juvenile offenders accountable and reducing recidivism.
“VOCA funds are instrumental in the operation of VOA’s Restorative Justice program, which provides alternative solutions for youth who come in contact with the criminal justice system and allows for healing and restoration for victims of crime,” said VOA President and CEO Jennifer Hancock. “This program positively impacts and heals communities throughout Kentucky while reducing the burden on taxpayers and significantly decreasing recidivism.”
To assist law enforcement response through an increase in victim services, the City of Berea has been awarded $64,567 to support a social worker, provide training and assist victims through the criminal justice process.
“The VOCA funding received by the Berea Police Department has been extremely valuable to our community,” Berea Mayor Bruce Fraley said. “Zinnia Hensley, community resources coordinator, who is assigned to our police department, has brought a wealth of knowledge and skills to the department. She is providing service to victims, while being a guiding force to the police department and an advocate for the citizens who benefit from her presence and expertise. We are very grateful for the VOCA funding that makes this all possible.”
Since his time as attorney general, Gov. Beshear has been committed to increasing public safety and seeking justice and assistance for victims of crime and intimate partner violence. On July 1, the Commonwealth of Kentucky released the 2023 Crime in Kentucky report published by KSP. The annual statewide crime report indicates crime rates have remained stable with a decline in offenses for homicide, burglary, robbery, sex offenses, kidnapping and gambling. For the last three consecutive years, homicide rates have been declining.
In April, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 319, increasing award amounts, expanding reimbursement categories and adding caregivers to the persons eligible for reimbursement from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund. On July 15, the maximum amount for compensation increased from $30,000 to $50,000; lost wages awards increased from $300 per week to $500 per week; and funeral expense reimbursement increased from $7,500 to $10,000. In addition to increased award amounts, new categories including relocation services, temporary housing, wellness practices, tattoo removal for victims of human trafficking, crime scene cleanup, repair of windows and locks, reimbursement of items seized as evidence and expenses to attend court proceedings will be eligible for reimbursement.
In June of 2023, Gov. Beshear and Secretary of State Michael Adams celebrated Senate Bill 79 becoming law. The bipartisan effort creates the Safe at Home Program, which will protect the residential addresses of survivors of domestic violence and other sexual crimes as well as the addresses of those who reside in the same household as the victim. To gain this protection, the victim or the individual residing in the victim's home must apply to the secretary of state's office to have the address protected.
The KSP Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) investigative team was formed in July 2021 after the U.S. Department of Justice awarded $1.5 million to the commonwealth to leverage existing investigative resources within the KSP Crime Lab by transitioning investigators and a criminal intelligence analyst from the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General to KSP. The team works with victims, law enforcement partners, prosecutors and community partners to provide enhanced investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases.
In October of last year, Gov. Beshear announced that an additional $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Justice had been awarded to the KSP SAKI investigative team to enhance its critical work by hiring additional personnel dedicated to testing sexual assault kits and improving sexual assault data collection to better identify predators. This funding was the second-largest award in the history of the commonwealth from the department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Get Help Now
If you have experienced domestic violence and need support or information about available services, remember: You are not alone. Kentucky’s domestic violence programs and shelters are open 24/7 and are safe for survivors and their families to receive emergency shelter and supportive services. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence and needs assistance, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-SAFE or clicking here.
You can reach out to the 24-hour Rape Crisis Line at 800-656-HOPE (4673) to connect with a sexual assault service provider near you or contact your local KSP Post to connect with a victim advocate.
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