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UPDATE: Wis. DOJ Plans to Reduce Sex Assault Victim Grants

Posted: 3:10 PM Dec 20, 2011

VIDEO: Wis. DOJ Plans to Reduce Sex Assault Victim Grants 6pm 12/5/11

UPDATED: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 --- 5:10p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Gov. Scott Walker has exempted the state Department of Justice from certain budget cuts that would have led to decreased funding for organizations that help sexual-assault victims.

The DOJ had warned the organizations their grants could be cut by 40 percent or more. But Walker's office on Tuesday said the governor will preserve about $294,000 in funding for sexual-assault victim services and another $45,000 to prevent child pornography.

Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie says it's possible that other state agencies could have to make even steeper cuts as a result.

Eric Peterson is the chief of staff for Sen. Lena Taylor, a Milwaukee Democrat. He calls Walker's announcement a good first step but not a long-term solution. He says the DOJ could still have the option of imposing other steep cuts.

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Posted Sunday, December 4, 2011 --- 1:45 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The Wisconsin Justice Department plans to dramatically cut funding for organizations that help sexual assault victims.

DOJ provides grants to victim service providers through its Sexual Assault Victim Services program. Agency officials warned providers in November that they plan to cut the grants by 42.5 percent.

DOJ officials say they had to make the cuts because the state budget has imposed a 10 percent cut to all state agencies and another $174.3 million in cuts on top of that.

The Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault is calling the cuts disastrous. DOJ officials say they are aware of the challenges the cuts present but they have little choice.