Violent Crime Control and
Law Enforcement Act of 1994; Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of
1968, Sections 2001-6, 42 U.S.C. 3796gg to gg-5, as amended; Violence Against
Women Act of 2000, Public Law 106-386.
To assist States, Indian
tribal governments, tribal courts, State and local courts, and units of local
government to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution
strategies to combat violent crimes against women, and to develop and
strengthen victim services in cases involving crimes against women. The
Program encourages the development and implementation of effective,
victim-centered law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to address
violent crimes against women and the development and enhancement of victim
services in cases involving violent crimes against women.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Formula Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
A State, Indian tribal government, or unit of local government shall not be
entitled to funds under this program unless the State, Indian tribal
government, or another governmental entity incurs the full out-of-pocket cost
of forensic medical examinations for victims of sexual assault. Further, a
State shall not be entitled to funds under this program unless it (1)
certifies that its laws, policies, and practices do not require, in connection
with the prosecution of any misdemeanor or felony domestic violence offense,
or in connection with the filing, issuance, registration, or service of a
protection order, or a petition for a protection order, to protect a victim of
domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault, that the victim bear the costs
associated with the filing of criminal charges against the offender, or the
costs associated with the filing, issuance, registration, or service of a
warrant, protection order, petition for a protection order, or witness
subpoena, whether issued inside or outside the State, tribal or local
jurisdiction or (2) assures the Attorney General that its laws, policies, and
practices will be in compliance with these provisions by the date on which the
next session of the tribal state legislature ends or October 28, 2002. Grants
shall provide personnel, training, technical assistance, data collection and
other equipment for the most widespread apprehension, prosecution, and
adjudication of persons committing violent crimes against women. States must
allocate a minimum of 25 percent of each year's grant award to each of the
following areas: prosecution and law enforcement. In addition, States must
allocate a minimum of 30 percent to victim services, a minimum of 5 percent to
courts. The remainder of the funds may be spent at the discretion of the state
within the statutory purpose areas.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility:
All States, Commonwealths, territories, and
possessions of the United States, as well as the District of Columbia, are
eligible. Funds will be sub-granted to units of state and local government,
state, local, and tribal courts, nonprofit nongovernmental victim services
programs, and Indian tribal governments.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
State and local units of government,
nonprofit nongovernmental victim services programs, state, local, and tribal
courts, and Indian tribal governments.
Credentials/Documentation:
Costs will be determined in accordance with
OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments, and OMB Circular No.
A-110 for Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Nonprofit
Organizations.
This program is eligible for coverage
under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An
applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point
of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State
requires to be followed in applying for assistance. This would be if the State
has selected the program for review. Application forms furnished by the Federal
agency, in accordance with 28 CFR, Part 66 (Common Rule), must be used for this
program.
Application Procedure:
Applicants submit proposals to the Office of
Justice Programs on the Internet through the OJP Grants Management System (GMS).
Standard Form 424 (Federal Assistance Applications). The receipt, review, and
analysis of applications will follow Office of Justice Programs policies and
procedures for the administration of grant applications. This program is subject
to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedure:
Upon approval by the Office of Justice Programs, a
letter is sent to the applicant agency with copies of the Grant Award. One copy
of the Grant Award must be signed by an authorized official and returned to the
Office of Justice Programs.
Deadlines:
Contact the Violence Against Women Office in the Office of
Justice Programs for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:
120 days after receipt of an
application.
Appeals:
Hearing held by Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice
Programs.
Renewals:
Applications are submitted on an annual basis.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements:
The Federal share of these grants
may not exceed 75 percent of the total costs of the projects described in the
applications. Non-profit, nongovernmental victim service programs are exempt
from the match. States may satisfy this 25 percent match through in-kind
services. Indian tribes that are sub-grantees of a State under this program may
meet the 25 percent matching requirement for this program by using funds
appropriated by Congress for the activities of any agency of an Indian tribal
government or for the activities of the Bureau of Indian Affair performing law
enforcement functions on any Indian lands. All funds designated as match are
restricted to the same uses as the Violence Against Women Program funds and must
be expended within the grant period.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:
Funds are released via the
Phone Activated Paperless System (PAPRS) or Letter of Credit Electronic
Certification System (LOCES) on an as needed basis to the State. The State in
turn sub-grants the money to the eligible public and/or private nonprofit
programs via draw downs.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Quarterly and final financial reports and an end-of- grant
program performance report will be required, as stipulated in the program
regulations and the effective edition of the OJP Financial Guide. In addition,
States must provide a statistical summary of persons served, detailing the
nature of victimization and providing data on age, sex, relationship of victim
to offender, geographic distribution, race, ethnicity, disability, and the
number of persons served in any underserved population. Grantees must also file
a report explaining the activities carried out and an assessment of the
effectiveness of those activities, including the number of persons served and
the numbers of persons seeking services who could not be served.
Audits:
All organizations that expend financial assistance of $300,000
or more in any fiscal year must have a single audit for that year in accordance
with OMB Circular No. A-133, as amended, unless the audit condition on the award
says otherwise. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency not later
than 9 months after the end of the grantee's fiscal year.
Records:
The award recipient must keep complete records on disposition
of funds.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
15-0404-0-1-754.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $117,379,854; FY 02 est $134,782,204; and
FY 03 est $130,891,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
Base amount
$600,000 to
each State, Commonwealth, and territory, and the District of Columbia. or
possession of the United States. Remaining dollars will be distributed based on
population.
As of fiscal year 2001, each State and territory received a base award of
$500,000 plus additional funds based on the population of the State or
territory.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
OJP Financial Guide is applicable.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office:
None.
Headquarters Office:
Violence Against Women Office, Office of Justice
Programs, Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531.
Telephone: (202) 307-6026.
Web Site Address:
http://www.usdoj.gov.
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Training and technical assistance for prosecutors, investigators, and law
enforcement officers on issues relating to sexual assault and domestic
violence; enhancement of services to victims of sexual assault and domestic
violence; and creation of investigative and prosecutorial units to handle
cases involving violent crimes against women.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
All applications submitted by the Chief Executive Officer of a State, or his
or her designee, will be accepted by the grantor Federal Agency for
consideration.
