The Safety for Indian Women from Sexual Assault Offenders Demonstration Initiative is the latest effort by the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to enhance the response of tribal and federal agencies to the high rates of sexual assault committed against Indian women. The Federal Tribal Working Group on Sexual Assault, which was established by OVW and includes representatives from the Attorney General's Native American Issues Subcommittee, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Indian Health Services (IHS), and several U.S. Attorneys' Offices, has assisted OVW with the development and implementation of this initiative.

Under this initiative, OVW has awarded over $900,000 to four tribes: Hannahville Indian Community, Wilson, Michigan; Navaho Nation, Window Rock, Arizona; Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Red Lake, Minnesota; and Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Rosebud, South Dakota. The goals of this initiative are to:

• Enhance the response of tribal and federal agencies to sexual assault of Indian women;
• Build upon an existing coordinated community response to sexual assault of Indian women
• Strengthen the capacity of tribal justice systems to respond to sexual assault of Indian women;
• Enhance and increase advocacy and services for Indian victims of sexual assault;
• Strengthen coordination between tribal and federal agencies responding to crimes of sexual assault against Indian women; and
• Expand current responses to crimes of sexual assault against Indian women.

OVW will work with the Tribal Law and Policy Institute to provide technical assistance to the four sites, including the training of personnel handling sexual assault crimes and the development of policies and educational materials specific to each tribe's language, values, customs, and traditions.