Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell said Wednesday that funding to help “our most vulnerable victims” of crime could be slashed this year because Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier rewrote a federal contract in a way that sets her office up for failure.

Worrell, speaking at a press conference, said the “unilaterally” rewritten contract is unique to the Ninth Judicial Circuit and accused Uthmeier of weaponizing federal victim assistance funds to “retaliate against the will of the voter.”

In the year since Worrell began her second term, Uthmeier has repeatedly lambasted her office’s policies and decisions. The public attacks, which Worrell has countered with defenses of her work, have left her supporters fearful that Gov. Ron DeSantis, who removed her from office in 2023, would do so again and was using his hand-picked attorney general to lay out a case against her.

The latest flash point between the attorney general and Central Florida’s most visible prosecutor is the federal Victims of Crime Act program, which aims to help those who’ve suffered from domestic violence, sexual abuse and other crimes.

Worrell’s office uses the money to pay for 10 victim advocates.

Every year, the circuit submits an application for the funds detailing how much money it wants and how many victims will be served.

In December, the Attorney General’s office redid her circuit’s contract, Worrell said, slashing funding in some areas and adding on unrealistic measures not likely to be achieved, which could jeopardize future funding.

The rewritten contract, for example, said the circuit would provide assistance in 1,000 physical child abuse cases. In the last year, advocates handled only 46 such cases, so it is unlikely their caseload will spike so dramatically in the coming year.

Worrell said she has not signed the contract. But she said the attorney general’s office, which decides how the federal funds are disbursed, gave her an ultimatum: Sign the rewritten contract or lose the money completely.

Isabel Kilman, a spokeswoman for Uthmeier, said Worrell’s circuit will get more funds this year, if she signs the contract. Last year, it received $225,000 and this year it would get almost $500,000.

“We hope she does the right thing and accepts the nearly half-million dollars our office is willing to provide on behalf of crime victims,” Kilman said in an email.

Kilman did not answer questions about why the contract was rewritten.

If she does sign, Worrell said she fears the victim advocates might not meet the benchmarks in the contract. And that failure could mean the office will have a “stain” on its record when applying for federal funding again.

When Worrell’s office filled out the application, for example, it requested enough money to help 3,750 domestic violence victims, the most common violent crime in Orange and Osceola counties, with more than 11,000 cases last year.

Uthmeier’s office altered the application to say 689 domestic violence victims would be helped. That funding request could mean money could not be spent on domestic violence cases once the 689-person cap was reached.

“These numbers are detached from real data, unsupported by case volume, and impossible to meet,” Worrell said.

She said her office reached out to the Uthmeier’s office, which refused to discuss the changes.

“This fight is about victim advocates who could, within a year, lose their jobs. This fight is about victims in this circuit who may not have the services that they need to be made whole,” Worrell said.

Victim advocates provide emotional support and advice to victims, such as explaining legal processes, sitting with them in court, and answering questions about the judicial system.

Worrell said their work sometimes means the difference between a victim pursuing a criminal case or going back home to an abusive situation.

The circuit has complied with federal requirements and used the funds as intended for 40 years, she said.

The numbers in the application are typically based on historical data, so they provide benchmarks that the circuit can meet, she added.

The federal funds currently being used by the circuit will cover costs until October, but Worrell said the money is “dwindling out right now.”

“The Ninth Judicial Circuit is once again being targeted by a partisan political agenda that puts politics ahead of public safety, and victims are the ones who will pay the price,” she added.

In August 2023, DeSantis suspended Worrell, who was then two years into her first term, for alleged incompetence and neglect of duty, claims she vigorously denied. Worrell easily won reelection the next year.