TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Mar 31, 2025

Gov. Bill Lee has included $20 million in his amended state budget for victim-serving agencies. According to the Tennessee Lookout, sexual assault centers, domestic violence shelters and child abuse counseling agencies — many of which play key roles in working with law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice — have seen their share of federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding decrease from a peak of $68 million in 2018 to $16 million last year. A coalition of victim advocate groups had requested $25 million in recurring state funding but said the governor's additional funds were an important first step. Earlier this month, a domestic violence agency in Memphis closed its doors due to funding issues. VOCA funding relies on fees and fines collected from individuals prosecuted in federal courts. The fund has seen a drop in collections as prosecutors have made a concerted shift to accept more plea deals.