Durbin Announces Over $450,000 in Federal Funding to Assist Victims of Sexual Assault in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a $459,058 grant to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to support rape crisis centers and other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that provide essential services, direct intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault. These organizations play a vital role in assisting sexual assault victims through the healing process, as well as assisting victims through the medical, criminal justice, and other social support systems.
“Today’s funding will help ensure that organizations assisting victims of sexual assault continue to have access to critical funding and resources,” said Durbin. “This is an important investment that will provide valuable and potentially lifesaving assistance to vulnerable individuals across Illinois.”
Today’s funding is provided through the DOJ’s Sexual Assault Services Program which was created as part of the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005. DOJ will award at total of $19,500,000 in FY2015 through this program.