by Wayne Ohio | Nov 30, 2020 | Blog
COLUMBUS, OH, Nov. 30, 2020 — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has joined a coalition of attorneys general representing 43 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories, urging Congress to extend the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economy (CARES) Act funding until the end of 2021.
The effort is being led by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, who wrote the letter signed by 49 the attorneys general and sent it to Congress today urging members to extend the December 30, 2020, deadline.
“The original need has not gone away, it’s become even more urgent,” Yost said. “Let’s not let the clock run out.”
With several pending measures, including bipartisan extension measures in both the House and Senate, the attorneys general urge Congress to pass one of these measures to give states and local communities additional time to utilize the precious COVID-relief resources.
COVID-19 has negatively impacted nearly every facet of American society. In anticipation of unprecedented costs and economic disruption stemming from the pandemic, Congress passed the CARES Act in March. The move provided more than $2 trillion in economic stimulus to state and local governments in an effort to combat the impacts of the pandemic.
One of the restrictions placed on the funding, however, limits the money’s use to expenses incurred between March 1, 2020, and December 30, 2020.
“This time frame likely made sense in late March when the CARES Act was passed, but we have learned a great deal about COVID-19 in the past seven months,” the letter states. “Among other things, we know that the pandemic will continue to challenge communities well beyond December 30, 2020 – a deadline that now seems unreasonable.”
As the pandemic continues to set record infections, states and local communities will continue to incur COVID-related expenses next year. By extending the deadline, communities nationwide will be able to be more strategic with the use of CARES Act funds, the attorneys general said.
The letter was signed by attorneys general in Alaska, American Samoa, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Posted by By Dan Starcher, public communications specialist for the Wayne County government
by Wayne Ohio | Sep 11, 2020 | Blog
COLUMBUS, OH, Sep. 2020 — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost today announced the formation of a new unit to help solve cold case homicides and unsolved sexual assault cases.
“We can make a difference, even when years have passed since a murder or sexual assault,” Yost said. “Consider how DNA testing advances have unmasked, time and time again, violent criminals who got away with living among us for too long.”
The new Cold Case Unit (CCU), housed within Yost’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), will utilize a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses proven investigative resources and techniques. By using state-of-the-art criminal intelligence gathering and laboratory analysis, as well as expertise in forensic disciplines such as crime scene and cybercrimes, CCU will work with law enforcement departments where cases originated to enhance their investigations.
Strategies offered will be customized to each cold case. For example, CCU could tap BCI’s Investigation Division for interrogations and exhumations; the Laboratory for advanced DNA testing or fingerprint analysis; and the Criminal Intelligence Unit for genealogy research after familial DNA tests or a fresh take on case details to ID new suspects. Such BCI tools have been used to investigate serial killers, identify unknown remains and indict sexual assault perpetrators.
The new unit and BCI’s Lab Division also are teaming up on two sexual assault case initiatives:
In Project SEND, local law enforcement agencies across Ohio will be notified of thousands of older cases in which technological advancements could provide new leads.
In Project SAK, law enforcement agencies will be offered additional investigative or laboratory strategies in cases in which BCI already found DNA, part of Ohio’s effort to test old sexual assault evidence that had been gathering dust in department storage rooms.
“Even if leads were thought to be exhausted in the past, applying current technology and new techniques may help solve old cases,” BCI Superintendent Joe Morbitzer said. “This is a service for all law enforcement agencies. BCI provides its resources to everyone from urban departments with a larger case volume to rural offices with limited resources – all can benefit from this true partnership model.”
More information on how the new unit works may be found HERE.
Posted by Dan Starcher, public communications specialist for the Wayne County government.
by Wayne Ohio | Aug 24, 2020 | Blog
COLUMBUS, OH, Aug. 2020 — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost today joined a coalition of state and territorial attorneys general representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories, urging Congress to adopt key changes to the Victims of Crime Act that provide critical financial support to victims of violent crimes and their families.
In a letter to congressional leaders, the attorney generals call on Congress to adopt changes to the Crime Victims Fund, a national fund that supports state victims’ services programs. The recommendations will stabilize the fund’s finances and provide more flexibility to grantees who are providing services to victims and their families.
“Immediate solutions are required to ensure the long-term viability of this fund that offers crime victims a helping hand at perhaps the most vulnerable point in their life,” Yost said. “The financial strength of the fund is critical in making sure all Ohioans have access to the help they need.”
The fund, established by the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA), is the primary funding source for victim services in the U.S. Deposits to the fund originate from criminal fines, forfeited bail bonds, penalties, and special assessments collected by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, federal courts and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The fund covers the expenses of essential direct services and support for victims and survivors in the aftermath of crime, including medical care, mental health counseling, lost wages, courtroom advocacy, and temporary housing.
The health of the Crime Victims Fund is at risk. In 2015, Congress increased the cap on distributions to it, allowing 2.5 million more victims to receive support. According to the letter, while “deposits have sharply decreased in recent years due to a decline in the fines and penalties recouped from federal criminal cases, withdrawals have increased at a rapid pace.”
The coalition makes three recommendations to promote the sustainability of the fund, and preserve access to programs and services:
1. Redirect fines and fees from corporate deferred and non-prosecution agreements to the fund: The Department of Justice increasingly uses deferred and non-prosecution agreements to resolve corporate misconduct. The attorneys general asked Congress to redirect these deposits to the fund. In 2018 and 2019, recoveries resulting from these agreements were about $8 billion each year.
2. Increase the rate of federal reimbursement to states for victim compensation programs: The fund currently reimburses state programs that provide financial assistance to victims at a rate of 60%, the remainder usually being funded by fines and fees in state courts. The letter recommends Congress reimburse state programs at a rate of 75%.
3. Extend the amount of time VOCA funds can be spent: VOCA requires recipients to spend grants within a four-year period. The coalition asks Congress to extend the period of funding so that state and local organizations can better plan and predict funding for long-term services.
Posted by Dan Starcher, public communications specialist for the Wayne County government.
