NCJ Number
234836
Journal
Women & Criminal Justice Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: April-June 2011 Pages: 141-169
Date Published
April 2011
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This article examines if rape crisis centers or programs are financially secure?
Abstract
Even though the anti-rape movement began more than 30 years ago and there is greater awareness of sexual violence, are rape crisis centers or programs financially secure? Data from interviews with 63 rape crisis workers and volunteers from 6 rape crisis centers or programs located in 4 East Coast States indicate not only that rape crisis centers/programs continue to struggle financially but also that lack of funding continues to present challenges. When rape crisis centers/programs experience reductions in funding, staff positions are eliminated, remaining staff and volunteers are overworked, efforts to recruit and train volunteers are compromised, services for victims are reduced, and education and outreach to the communities become less available. Lack of funding negatively affects rape crisis centers/programs and jeopardizes their future. (Published Abstract)