Gary King
Violent homicides claimed the lives of 140 New Mexicans last year.
On Friday, many of those victims’ families and others, including New Mexico Attorney General Gary King, will honor their memory on the third annual National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims.
“Homicides continue to routinely make the local nightly news,” King said. “This day of remembrance honors the memory of the victims and also acknowledges the pain and suffering of families and friends left behind.”
On Wednesday, King signed a letter along with AGs from 54 states and territories that urged members of Congress to support the Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act of 2009.
Grants to state victim assistance programs under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) provide funding for services that serve more than 4 million victims of crimes including domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, homicide, drunk driving crashes and elder abuse. But the total money available from the VOCA funds has been declining every year.
State administrators like New Mexico’s Larry Tachman and Kristy Ring say they need a sustainable increase in federal funding to ensure continued support for victims. Because annual VOCA caps have not kept pace with the costs of providing victim services, states have been doing more with less.
The Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act of 2009 would raise the cap on federal VOCA grants to $705 million for fiscal year 2010, and then increase the cap by 23 percent each year through 2014. The standards and formula for allocating the funds would not change, and even with the increased caps, the crime victims fund is projected to maintain a sustainable balance of at least $800 million through 2014.
Stepping up to help others
Not everyone is relying on help from the grants.
James McGrane, the father of murdered Bernalillo County Sheriff Deputy James McGrane Jr., told NMPolitics.net, “Some of these victims have a very difficult time after a murder. Stop and think about it. Many families have hardships afterward. They suffer. It could be a breadwinner who got killed, so families need help with both the little things and even help getting kids through college.”
Earlier this month, McGrane and his wife Rita hosted their fourth annual benefit dinner in honor of their son at the Elks Lodge in Albuquerque. The money they raised goes to officer street survival training courses.
The fundraiser, attended by about 350 people, including Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez and District Attorney Kari Brandenburg, raised more than $10,000.
McGrane, who still drives a school bus in Albuquerque’s East Mountains, said raising the money “helps us because we’re doing something positive. If we can save one life… then it’s worth it.”