Are 140 crime victim resource groups at risk of losing a significant amount of funding by Summer 2025? Quite possibly, yes. And this is why the ‘Rally for Victims’ held this Saturday called for some state intervention. At stake is funding for, among other things, medical exams, therapy, legal services, emergency housing via the Federal Victims of Crime Act. The Washington state legislature, in 2021, agreed to supplement the federal funding to the tune of $64 million over four years. That state supplement ends in 2025, which has caused a great deal of concern that crime victims in Washington will lose vital support for medical exams, therapy, legal services, emergency housing and the like. If the state doesn’t ‘step [back] up to the plate,’ it is likely that funds will drop by more than 50% to these victim resource groups; if funding is slashed, advocates claim that layoffs and reduced resources for victims are inevitable. Time will tell if our Washington legislature will again supplement federal funding for victim resource groups.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge, immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.