Local victim advocates received a boost recently when S.C. State University received funds as part of a $5.3 million U.S. Justice Department grant.

Barbara Jean Nelson, manager of the Victims of Crime Program at the state Department of Public Safety, said $26,880 was awarded to the Orangeburg institution earlier this week.

Jason Reed, S.C. State Campus Police Department administrative assistant, confirmed Friday the department will use the money to purchase a car for transporting crime victims.

"Normally, we announce the grant awards on June 1 and the recipients have them on July 1," Nelson said. "This year the funds weren't received until Sept. 4. Washington told us they got behind because they were told to stop everything they were doing and get funds associated with the Stimulus Act out first."

Nelson said the other area VOCA grant award went to the First Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Summerville office.

"It's our understanding this will be used to handle almost 850 cases annually in that area," Nelson said. Jodi Hortman, First Circuit Solicitors victim advocate, says the $35,172 grant will be used to fund one full-time victim advocate position in Dorchester County.

VOCA funds, funneled through the states, have become a consistent source of funds for nonprofit victim advocacy agencies since the act was passed in 1984.

Labrena Aiken-Furtick, CASA/Family Systems deputy director, says her agency has not applied for VOCA funds in awhile. She said CASA/Family Service's other sister agencies across the state have been waiting for the money.

"It's a competitive process," Aiken-Furtick said. "When you have limited resources, we as staff have to strategically plan which dollars we go after. There will be a slight increase in VOCA funds next year so we may apply for some of that. But it would have to be reviewed based on our needs."

Aiken-Furtick said her agency has applied for approximately $100,000 through the federal Violence Against Women Act. Notification of the awards is anticipated by Sept. 30, she said.

Aiken-Furtick also noted that federal stimulus funds are scheduled to be available to victim advocacy and support agencies this year through Nelson's office.

"They haven't told us yet when that will be," she said. "The stimulus funds will also be awarded through a competitive process. Depending on the criteria for those funds, we would anticipate using the money to enhance some of our existing programs rather than creating any new ones."

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T&D Staff Writer Phil Sarata can be reached by e-mail at psarata@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5540. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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