Providing $1 million in federal grant money for victims of crime in Connecticut really sounds honorable, but why the heck is the federal government providing these funds to the state? The baseline of most of my opinions is the United States Constitution. The Constitution provides specific responsibilities to Congress and the rest are left to the states and the people.
What makes this even worse is the funding is being passed down as part of the 2009 Recovery Act. ARRGGHHHH!
Why don’t we just have the federal government start funding snow removal on city streets, funding for public schools, installation of stop signs, street lights and new sidewalks. Oh yeah… WE ALREADY ARE! Do you see the main problem here?
Reader Matt N. forwards a news release from the Connecticut Judicial Branch.
The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded the Connecticut Judicial Branch’s Office of Victim Services (OVS) more than $1 million in grant money through funding under the Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act.
Of the total $1,017,841 received, $285,841 will go toward reimbursing victims for expenses incurred as a result of violent crime – for example, medical costs, mental health counseling, funeral and burial costs, and lost wages or loss of support. This money will be administered through the Office of Victim Services’ compensation unit.
The remaining $732,000 will be used to support non-profit agencies that contract with OVS and serve crime victims, such as the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence and its 18 member programs. States receiving the money are required under the grant to give priority to programs serving victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse; these types of programs provide services that include crisis intervention, counseling, emergency shelter, criminal justice advocacy and emergency transportation. Additional funds must be set aside for underserved victims, such as survivors of homicide victims and victims of drunken drivers. The OVS will administer the allocation of this money as well.
