As Victims' Rights Week begins, victims' advocates are seeking help from Hawaii's congressional delegation to restore money intended to help victims of violent crimes.
The Victims of Crime Act, established by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, collects fees and fines from federal criminal defendants and uses them for grants for compensation and services for victims locally. Congress caps how much money can be spent each fiscal year to keep a reserve in case less money is collected the next year. The current cap is $625 million.
The Bush administration wants to take away $1.2 billion dollars in reserves that would have been sitting in the fund at the beginning of fiscal year 2007 and divert that money, as well as any new revenues, into the government's general fund.
The Victims of Crime Act, established by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, collects fees and fines from federal criminal defendants and uses them for grants for compensation and services for victims locally. Congress caps how much money can be spent each fiscal year to keep a reserve in case less money is collected the next year. The current cap is $625 million.
The Bush administration wants to take away $1.2 billion dollars in reserves that would have been sitting in the fund at the beginning of fiscal year 2007 and divert that money, as well as any new revenues, into the government's general fund.
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