Tennessee must invest in crime victim services

The work of nonprofits outside the legal system is crucial to victims of crime and requires an investment from Tennessee government.(Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

I was a criminal prosecutor for seven years, and while I met with hundreds of crime victims during that time, I never became numb to the experience. When you see fear in the eyes of a domestic violence victim, or stand with someone who has lost their sense of personal safety after a home  invasion, it changes you. 

For me, each encounter strengthened my resolve to find justice for them.  That meant two things: holding the people who hurt them accountable but also doing whatever I could to help put the victim’s life back together. 

Along with my colleagues in law enforcement, I was often the first person to speak at length with the victim of a violent crime. In addition to gathering facts that may be useful in court, I did my best  to explain the criminal justice process: what the victim should expect, what they may be asked to  do, and how long it may take to resolve their case. But supporting victims is about so much more  than that.  

Much of the real work of supporting victims happens outside the legal system — through a network of nonprofit and government agencies that quietly and steadily work with survivors to heal and move forward, here in Tennessee and across the country. Without them, resources like temporary housing for victims of domestic violence, crisis hotlines, and counseling services for victims would  simply not be available. Prosecutors are also less likely to have victims cooperate and testify if victims are overwhelmed with challenges unrelated to the legal system — whether it’s a place to  stay, coping with trauma or some other basic need.  

Tennessee victim-serving agencies warn cuts will be ‘catastrophic’ if Gov. Bill Lee fails to act

Perhaps recognizing the value of victim service providers, Gov. Bill Lee’s most recent  supplemental budget includes a one-time request for $20 million over two years for these  organizations. This is a positive step, but still far less than the $25 million in recurring annual  funding that victims’ rights agencies and their allies have identified as essential. Across the nation, federal funding for victim-serving agencies such as nonprofits and shelters is quickly dwindling.  These cuts would be particularly devastating in Tennessee, which has declined to provide consistent state-level funding for victim services in recent years.  

To be clear, these kinds of services are not luxuries for people fleeing violence. What we  sometimes blandly refer to as “victims services” include professionals who provide crucial support  to victims and their children. Further reductions to federal resources would force them to shut  down — and in some parts of Tennessee, service providers are already closing. Funding cuts could  have an exceptionally devastating impact on crime victims in rural communities who already lack  access to many kinds of support.  

To put the $25 million request from victim service providers in perspective, the Tennessee  Department of Correction spent over $900 million on incarceration in 2023. Rather than focusing  disproportionately on jailing those who commit crimes, our justice system should also invest in  serving victims and their families. And the resources are available — last year, Lee’s office claimed that the state’s “rainy day fund” of reserves had topped a record $2  billion.  

Establishing a substantial and recurring fund is absolutely vital to protect the safety, dignity, and  well-being of those who have been impacted by crime. By making a long-term investment in these community-based organizations, our criminal justice system can better serve those who are  harmed by crime and ensure that no victim suffers alone.