(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says a 17-month-long review has found serious problems in state services for crime victims.

Bird says she was shocked to learn the system to notify victims when a protective order is being served or is about to expire was terminated in 2019 by her predecessor, Democrat Tom Miller.

Bird has hired a coordinator to revive the notification system.

Bird’s report indicates a separate system that notifies victims when their abuser will be released from custody has been fixed. Bird says it was causing fear and panic in victims because it incorrectly sent notices about transfers from jail to jail or to a state prison.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird spoke to reporters today during a news conference in her Des Moines office. (RI photo)

Bird announced today (Friday) she’ll be using money in her agency’s budget to double the pay for Iowa nurses who conduct sexual assault exams — and she hopes that encourages more nurses to take the training that’s required.

For the first time, the Iowa nurses authorized to conduct sexual assault exams will get mileage reimbursed, too. Bird, who was elected in 2022, stopped state reimbursement for emergency contraception for sex abuse victims soon after she took office in early 2023 and she’s released that hold today (Friday).

Bird says no tax dollars will be used, but instead fees and fines criminals pay into the state’s victim compensation fund will cover the costs. It’s the same policy that was in place before she took office for Plan B. Bird will no longer allow victim funds to cover the costs of an abortion for sexual assault victims.

In response, State Auditor Rob Sand, today (Friday) said in a statement:

“For a year, Iowa’s Attorney General inflicted even more trauma on rape victims just for politics. We know because her report doesn’t provide a single legal or financial reason to have withheld payments for emergency contraception.”