Agencies chip in after Kane County loses grant, victim advocates
If it takes a village to raise a child, then perhaps it takes a county to provide services to crime victims.
In the months after the Kane County state's attorney's office lost a grant that funded three full-time advocates in the office's Victim's Rights Unit, several local agencies have offered resources and people-power.
"We've been able to put together a patchwork of services," State's Attorney Joe McMahon said Tuesday during his monthly media meeting. "It's not sustainable long term for me to rely on outside agencies."
This year, McMahon's office learned from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority - the agency that doles out grants under the federal Victims of Crime Act - it lost a $104,368 grant used to help fund three full-time victim advocates.
Kane County would chip in $59,982 for a total of $164,350 to pay the salaries. State law requires victims of violent crime who sign a Victims Bill of Rights to be notified of court hearings, get assistance in applying for restitution and other services.
The county had received the grant for more than 20 years and longtime advocates, such as Judy Bland, have been recognized by state lawmakers for their work.
Since then, McMahon has assigned some duties to prosecutors and support staff and advocates from other divisions have helped. Mutual Ground, a domestic violence shelter in Aurora, has a worker to help provide support for cases in southern Kane County. Elgin and Carpentersville police have assigned a victim services specialist and social worker, respectively, to assist on cases from their jurisdictions.
Schaumburg-based AAIM, or Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists, also is providing support.
"All of these agencies have really stepped forward," McMahon said.
McMahon said he will improve his grant application to the ICJIA, and ask the county board to provide funding for victim advocates.
"Public safety is and should be a high priority, if not, the highest priority," he said. "I'm confident they will seriously consider and evaluate my funding request."
Counties have various funding methods for their victim advocates. Some rely on grants, while others, such as DuPage County, draw money from the county's general fund.
If the Kane County Board and ICJIA both signed off on funding victim advocates for 2019, McMahon pledged to return the county's funds to the board, a step similar to last year when he carried over some unspent money for Crisis Intervention Training for officers.