Utah County Attorney's Office reports VOCA-funded victim-coordinator work, notes grant cuts and county backfill

Katie Fox of the Utah County Attorney's Office delivered the semiannual VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) report to the commission, saying the office is meeting its grant goals and that staff are stretched as courts return to fuller schedules.

"We're meeting all of our goals," Fox said, and noted that the VOCA grant was reduced by 25% in the last cycle; the county funded the remainder for a partially funded victim-coordinator position. Fox said the office is understaffed with attorneys and that victim services require more staff time now that courts have resumed trials and in-person proceedings.

Commissioners thanked the office for careful fiscal stewardship amid inflation and rising demand and asked about trends; Fox said the number of victims served rose each year she has worked in the office, particularly in sexual-assault and domestic-violence cases.