Victims’ advocacy program could be cut

One of the programs on the chopping block in Hillsborough County’s latest round of budget cuts is the Victim’s Assistance Program, run by the State Attorney’s Office. The program started 25 years ago, and it provides services to victims of violent crimes. A beneficiary of the program, Sabrina Mitchell, says she is devastated. Her sister, Karen Taylor Williams was killed two years ago in a Brandon nightclub when she was shot. Deputies said she was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of an argument between two men. The man accused of killing her, Tyrone Grimes, is now serving life in prison. Mitchell says her family got through the court system maze only with the help of a victim’s advocate. “The first thing they provide is to understand how the system works,” Mitchell said. “From an emotional standpoint, you want it to be over. You’re sitting across from the guy who killed your sister. So she prepares for that. They prepare you for that.” The program cut would save $2 million each year for two years. It would also mean the entire staff of 35 would lose their jobs. “I have no doubt in my mind that there will be many cases that will go down the tubes without having that link,” said Cari Taylor, an investigator with the State Attorney’s Office who works on domestic violence and sex offender cases.

“It’s hard enough to get victims to press charges and follow through. If the program is cut, victims won’t come forward,” she says. “They’re like the missing link between law enforcement and the court system.” Before the program began, victims were on their own when dealing with the court system. Jo Carrol Bird was all alone dealing with the trial of the man who killed her husband in 1985 during a robbery. “No one ever called. You never knew about court dates. I didn’t know about arraignments, the disposition hearings. I was never informed of any of that,” said Bird. She now works for the Victim’s Assistance program. She will lose her job, but she says beyond that, victims will lose a necessary resource. “You’re on an emotional rollercoaster as it is,” she said. “And without anyone calling you or explaining things along the way, it’s very scary.” Sabrina Mitchell hopes commissioners will find the money to save it. “It’s cruel to think a family is going through enough grief already and to expect them to be able to navigate through the court system on top of the grief and the fear of the unknown. I think it’s cruel to say you don’t have any resources, have at it, do the best you can,” Mitchell said.  

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Victims’ advocacy program could be cut

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