To implement mandatory
arrest or proarrest programs and policies in police departments, including
mandatory arrest programs and policies for protection order violations, as
part of a coordinated community response to domestic violence; to develop
policies, educational programs, and training programs in police departments to
improve tracking of cases involving domestic violence and dating violence; to
centralize and coordinate police enforcement, prosecution, probation, parole
and/or judicial responsibility for domestic violence cases in groups or units
of police officers, prosecutors, probation and parole officers, or judges; to
coordinate computer tracking systems to ensure communication between police,
prosecutors, parole and probation officers and both criminal and family
courts; to strengthen legal advocacy service programs for victims of domestic
violence and dating violence, including strengthening assistance to such
victims in immigration matters; and to educate judges in criminal and other
courts about domestic violence and to improve judicial handling of such cases;
to provide technical assistance and computer and other equipment to police
departments, prosecutors, courts, and tribal jurisdictions to facilitate the
widespread enforcement of protection orders, including interstate enforcement,
enforcement between States and tribal jurisdictions, and enforcement between
tribal jurisdictions; and to develop or strengthen policies and training for
police, prosecutors, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and
prosecuting instances of domestic violence and sexual assault against older
individuals and individuals with disabilities.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Grants are available to States, State and local courts, Indian tribal
governments, and units of local governments to encourage them to treat
domestic violence as a serious violation of criminal law.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility:
Eligible grantees are States, Indian tribal
governments, State or local courts, or units of local governments that (1)
certify that their laws or official policies encourage or mandate arrests of
domestic violence offenders based on probable cause that an offense has been
committed, and encourage or mandate arrest of domestic violence offenders who
violate the terms of a valid and outstanding protection order; (2) demonstrate
that their laws, policies, or practices and their training programs discourage
dual arrest of the offender and the victim; (3) certify that their laws,
policies, or practices prohibit issuance of mutual restraining orders of
protection except in cases where both spouses file a claim and the court makes
detailed findings of fact indicating that both spouses acted primarily as
aggressors and that neither spouse acted primarily in self-defense; and (4)
certify that their laws, policies, or 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.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
Beneficiaries include criminal and tribal
justice practitioners, domestic violence victim advocates, and other service
providers who respond to victims of domestic violence.
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 office designated as the single point of
contact in his or her state for more information on the processes the State
requires to be followed in applying for assistance, 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 must submit a proposal to the Office
of Justice Programs on Standard Form 424 (Federal Assistance Applications). All
applicants are required to apply via the OJP online Grants Management System.
Instructions for using the automated system are contained in the annual
Application Kit, and on the OJP web site. 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:
Approximately 120 days after
receipt of an application.
Appeals:
Hearing held by the Assistant Attorney General, Office of
Justice Programs.
Renewals:
Renewals are considered on a case-by-case basis.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements:
Grants will be made for amounts up
to 100 percent of the costs of the programs or projects contained in the
approved applications. Match is not required for this grant program; however,
applicants are encouraged to maximize the impact of Federal dollars by
contributing to the cost of the project. Supplemental contributions may be cash,
in-kind services, or a combination of both.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:
Up to 24 months. Funds are
released on an as-needed basis to the grantee.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Semi-annual progress and quarterly financial reports are
required, as stipulated in the program regulations and the effective edition of
the OJP Financial Guide. Upon completion of the grant period, grantees shall
file a performance report explaining the activities carried out and including an
assessment of the effectiveness of those activities in achieving the purposes of
the program, including number of persons served and numbers of persons seeking
services who could not be served.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133
(Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and
Non-Profit Organization," nonfederal entities that expend financial
assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a
program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend
less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit
requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
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 $33,755,055; FY 02 est $65,691,384; and FY
03 est $64,925,000.
In fiscal year 2001, approximately 90 grants totaling approximately
$26,600,000 were awarded.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
The 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/vawo.
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Community-wide approaches to reduce and prevent domestic violence that
actively involve the police department, the prosecutor's office, the courts,
and nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services agencies; initiatives within
law enforcement to address police officers who batter; the development of
computer systems to track domestic violence cases, protection orders, and
violations of protection orders; legal advocacy for domestic violence victims;
the implementation of pro-arrest or mandatory arrest programs and policies in
police departments; and proactive judicial monitoring, sanctions, and
intensive supervision to manage offender behavior and ensure victim safety.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Criteria are established by the Office of Justice Programs and included in an
annual Application Kit.
