KCSDV Supports Effort to Increase State Funding to Victim Services

Topeka, KS – The Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence supports efforts by the Kansas Legislature’s budget conference committee to add $1 million for core services to victims of sexual and domestic violence. Such efforts are being considered today. Unfortunately, sexual assault and domestic violence numbers in Kansas have not gone down in recent years and, in fact, remain very high.

• Between 2008 and 2010, DV-related homicides increased: from 19, to 35, to 32; (2010 KBI Report)
• Statewide in 2010, the percent of homicides that were DV-related increased from 14.84% to 31.07%; (2010 KBI Report)
• Statewide homicide numbers from 2011 are not in but local highlights are as follows:
  • In 2011, in Wichita, domestic violence-related homicides represented 37% of the total homicides in that city;
  • In 2011, in Johnson county, 64% of total homicides were domestic violence-related; it was 25% locally the year before;
• Numbers of sexual assaults reported so far this year to Safehomes, Inc., in Winfield nearly equal what was reported in all of 2011;
• Domestic battery, rape & sexual battery consistently rank in the top 10 person crimes in the most populated areas of Kansas;
• There are less than 500 beds available in DV shelters statewide

Victims are using the shelters and the face-to-face services at much higher rates and staying longer in shelters, which are operating at capacity. Victim’s needs are more acute; their situations more lethal; and their lives much more complicated.

An additional one-million dollars in funding, being considered by the legislature today would allow KCSDV member programs to provide core services to all survivors. Core services, available to all who need them, include personal, medical, and legal advocacy, support groups, emergency shelter, and 24-hour crisis hotlines.