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According to the 2007 National Crime Victimization Survey of the United States, approximately 623,000 violent crimes–554,000 against female victims–were committed by an intimate partner and approximately 248,300 rape/sexual assault victimizations occurred in 2007. The 2007 BJS Report on "Homicide Trends in the U.S." revealed that about one-third of female murder victims were killed by an intimate [partner]. A study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that about 10% of students report being physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the last 12 months. Lastly, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics Supplemental Victimization Survey on Stalking, an estimated 3.4 million persons age 18 or older were victims of stalking during a 12 month period. The National Crime Victimization Survey found that there were nearly 200,000 incidents of rape or sexual assault in the United States in 2005. A coordinated response from the criminal justice system is critical to reducing violent crimes against women by improving victim safety and offender accountability.
Program Overview
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) currently administers 19 programs authorized by the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and subsequent legislation. These grants are designed to develop the nation's capacity to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by strengthening services to victims and holding offenders accountable for their actions.
The Court Training and Improvements Program (Courts Program), created by the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005), is designed to improve court responses to adult and youth domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. To effectively assess methods and to ensure that implementation of the Courts Program reflects best practices for improving court responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, OVW will hold a series of discussions to solicit feedback on proven techniques and examine what courts need. Applicants who receive grants through the Court Training and Improvements Program will also benefit from expert guidance and necessary technical and substantive support.
VAWA 2005 authorized the appropriation of $5 million for each of Fiscal Years 2007 to 2011 for the Courts Program. Initial funding for this program occurred in Fiscal Year 2008 when $2.82 million was appropriated. These funds have enabled OVW to continue and expand critical judicial education programs and to begin the best practices discussions.
OVW funds will enable courts and court-based or court-related programs to develop or enhance court infrastructure; community-based initiatives within the court system; offender management, monitoring, and accountability programs; safe and confidential information-storage and -sharing databases within and between court systems; education and outreach programs; and other projects likely to improve court responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Funds may also support a national judicial education curriculum, as well as a curriculum for tribal court judges.
The Courts Program will fund projects that improve internal civil and criminal court functions, responses, practices, and procedures and provide education for court-based and -related personnel on issues relating to victims' needs, including safety, security, privacy, confidentiality, and economic independence, as well as information about perpetrator behavior and best practices for holding perpetrators accountable.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include Federal, State, tribal, territorial, or local courts or court-based programs; and national, State, tribal, territorial, or local private, nonprofit organizations with demonstrated expertise in developing and providing judicial education about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
The Courts Program is currently under development. Please check the OVW website (www.ovw.usdoj.gov) for updated information, solicitation announcements, and a full description of the Violence Against Women Act Court Training and Improvement Act of 2005.
If you have additional questions, contact OVW at (202) 307-6026.
February 2009
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