Madison – September 24, 2024 – Black and Brown Womyn Power Coalition (BBWPC), End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (WCASA) commend the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) for including a significant increase in funding for sexual assault and domestic abuse services in their agency budget request. DOJ is requesting approximately $66 million in state funding over the biennium for victim service providers. This includes at least $16 million for sexual assault services and $20 million for domestic abuse services over two years.
This increase comes at a critical time for programs in Wisconsin who will experience devastating cuts in in federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding beginning on October 1st. It is important to note that cuts in VOCA funding would have occurred much sooner were it not for Governor Evers allocation of American Rescue Plan dollars allowing DOJ to level fund programs through fiscal year 2024. Additionally, the Wisconsin legislature passed Act 241 earlier this year which included $10 million for victim service providers in Wisconsin. While this has provided some relief for programs, that funding was provided on a one-time basis and lapses on June 30th, 2025. While the coalitions express appreciation of both of those actions, the reductions in VOCA funding coming into Wisconsin over recent years are so significant that programs will still experience cuts beginning October 1st.
The consequences of these cuts are forcing programs to lay off staff and reduce services. Ultimately some programs may have to shut their doors. The impacts are falling hardest on the smallest programs, including those serving communities of color as well as those in rural and low-income communities. Potentially thousands of victims statewide are losing access to lifesaving and life-sustaining child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and other victim services. The real-time impact of these cuts will not only be felt by survivors and their families, but will also ripple through communities.
The coalitions express gratitude towards Attorney General Kaul for including this significant increase and victim services funding in the DOJ agency budget request. However, being early in the stages of the 2025-27 state budget process, they call on Governor Evers to include this request in his executive budget, and for the Legislature to adopt it when they pass the budget next year.
For those experiencing domestic or sexual violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1−800−799−7233), the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673), and the Hmong Family Strengthening Helpline (1-877-740-4292) are available 24/7 for support. A list of local Wisconsin domestic violence victim service providers can be found at www.endabusewi.org/get-help. A list of local WI sexual assault victim service providers can be found at www.wcasa.org/survivors/service-providers. A list of local WI Black and Brown culturally-specific domestic violence and sexual assault victim resources can be found at www.bbwpcoalition.org/resources-in-wi.
