WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) made the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed critical legislation to strengthen the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) by redirecting monetary penalties from federal deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements into the Crime Victims Fund to increase funding for state victim compensation and assistance programs.
“I’m very pleased that the Senate overwhelmingly passed my legislation with Senator Durbin to provide additional funds for the Crime Victims Fund.
“Money regarding non-prosecution agreements and deferred prosecution agreements, which have become more common, currently goes to the general Treasury instead of the Crime Victims Fund.
“In South Carolina, groups who provide services to victims of crime, particularly children, have experienced a reduction in funding. This bill replenishes the Crime Victims Fund and will require future funding to go into the Fund rather than the general Treasury.
“This is a big win for those groups who provide much-needed care and attention to victims of crime. I’ve been working on this issue for over a year, and I’m glad to see it finally become a reality.
“I want to thank South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who was very helpful in drafting this legislation, as well as all of my colleagues for passing this proposal to provide much-needed resources to victims of crime.”
Graham’s full remarks on the VOCA fix legislation ahead of the vote on Senate passage can be found here.