Tester Delivers $7.6 Million for Montana Crime Victim Services

Senator has led efforts to boost funding for state & community organizations that assist victims of crime

U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced today he delivered more $7.6 million to the Montana Board of Crime Control to fund community-based organizations that assist with medical care, legal support, housing and other services for survivors of violent crime.

“Montana is home to some top-notch organizations that help victims of violent crime recover from trauma and get back on their feet, but without the right resources, our domestic violence shelters and legal aid organizations can only do so much,” Tester said. “This funding will help give the folks on the front lines helping survivors better tools to boost outcomes after a violent crime, and I’m going to continue fighting this Administration’s attempts to cut it.”

The funding is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) and comes from fines and restitution paid by criminals convicted of federal crimes.

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester has continually worked to provide stable funding for these VOCA and Violence Against Women Act grants. This spring he urged Congress to fully fund both programs, and he helped secure $497.5 million for Violence Against Women Act programs in last year’s government funding deal.

The Montana Board of Crime Control helps administer funding for crime prevention and other services between federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies.