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US Department of Justice Awards $114 Million to Address Violence Against Women

The Department of Justice granted over $114 million yesterday as part of its efforts to address and prevent violence against women across the country. The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women released the funds to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories through its STOP (Service, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program.

According to the Department of Justice, STOP Program grants are wide-ranging and intended for state, local, and tribal court systems as well as Indian tribal governments and nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services groups. STOP formula grants are meant to support prevention of and effective responses to domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault.

Cindy Dyer, director of the Office on Violence Against Women hopes the funds will “enhance services to victims” as well as “improve coordination between law enforcement, prosecution and courts, and strengthen victim services,” according to Market Watch.

The Office on Violence Against Women awards a base amount of $600,000 to each state, according to Market Watch, with further STOP funding to be allocated based on state population. Recipients must meet at least one of the program’s statutory purpose areas to receive funding, which include training of law enforcement officers, judges, and other court personnel to better identify and respond to crimes of violence against women and the expansion of current victim services programs.

Sources:

Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women 9/30/2008, Market Watch 9/29/08

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