Attorney General Alan Wilson announces SC victims’ services groups awarded more than $26 Million in grants
October 29, 2024
Attorney General Alan Wilson announced groups that help crime victims across South Carolina will soon be getting more than $26 million in federal and state grants. The S.C. Public Safety Coordinating Council formally approved the grants earlier this year and the projects began October 1, 2024.
The grants are distributed by the Department of Crime Victim Assistance Grants, in the Attorney General’s Office. There are four different types of grants: Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants; Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grants; State Victim Assistance Program (SVAP) grants; and Supplemental Allocation for Victims Services (SAVS) grants.
“These state and local agencies and non-profit groups do so much to help people who are going through traumatic circumstances. With these funds we are able to support agencies throughout the state as they assist victims of violent crime in their recovery,” Attorney General Alan Wilson said.
The grants are being awarded to private non-profit organizations, sheriff’s offices, police departments, solicitor’s offices, and state agencies. For example, Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office is receiving a VAWA award of $45,382 to support a criminal domestic violence investigator. Project R.E.S.T., serving Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union counties is receiving two VOCA awards totaling $838,413 to provide shelter and supportive services to victims of domestic violence, and services such as victim and legal advocacy and therapeutic services to victims of sexual assault. The Dee Norton Center Lowcountry Children’s Center, based in Charleston, receives one VOCA grant of $524,846 to provide child advocacy services.
“The grant staff of the Crime Victim Services Division in the Attorney General’s Office is honored to work with the hundreds of caring, dedicated professionals who help victims of crime every day in South Carolina,” said Barbara Jean “BJ” Nelson, Director of the Division. “Our goal is to have the most effective, and the most compassionate, victim service system in the United States.”
Approximately 61 percent of the money comes from federal grants, with the remaining portion from state funds. Both VOCA and VAWA are administered by the US Department of Justice. VOCA uses non-taxpayer money from the Federal Crime Victims Fund. VAWA is appropriated by Congress. It is important to note that VOCA funds come from federal fines and penalties, not from taxpayers, and it does not add to the national debt or deficit in any way.
You can see the Upstate groups getting grants and the grant amounts here.
