The OVW domestic violence mentor court technical assistance initiative (mentor courtinitiative) recognizes well-established specialized courts and enables them to guide novice or developing courts and…

The Tulsa County District Court received a $150,000 cooperative agreement award from the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) under the OVW Special Projects (CFDA 16.029) program. The award supports the Tulsa County District Court to serve as a Mentor Court under the OVW Domestic Violence Mentor Court Technical Assistance Initiative. Through this role, the court will:

1. Assist in selecting jurisdictions to receive mentorship; 2) Develop mentoring relationships with selected jurisdictions planning domestic violence courts; 3) Host 6-9 site visits for selected jurisdictions to assist with domestic violence court planning; 4) Provide on-site technical assistance 2-3 times to selected jurisdictions; 5) Share best practices, protocols, and procedures; and 6) Participate in OVW-sponsored forums and meetings. The Tulsa County District Court will serve as a national model and share its expertise to help other courts improve their responses to domestic violence cases and enhance victim safety and offender accountability. The grant term is from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2025.

The OVW domestic violence mentor court technical assistance initiative (mentor courtinitiative) recognizes well-established specialized courts and enables them to guide novice or developing courts and court-based programs that wish to significantly improve their responses to domestic violence cases and ensure victim safety and offender accountability. These well-established courts serve as national models and share their expertise by hosting site visits, linking courts with peers facing similar challenges, and assisting other domestic violence courts to implement best practices to respond effectively to these difficult cases. Five courts were competitively selected to serve as mentor court sites. Each site will: 1) assist in selecting jurisdictions to receive mentorship; 2) develop and maintain a mentoring relationship with selected jurisdictions planning domestic violence courts; 3) plan and host 6-9 site visits for selected jurisdictions to assist them in planning a domestic violence docket or court; 4) travel 2-3 times to selected jurisdictions to provide on-site technical assistance on developing a domestic violence courtor docket; 5) share domestic violence related court forms, procedures, and protocols; 6) send members of the recipients mentor court team to 1-2 mentor court all sites meetings; 7) participate in the OVW judicial engagement network summit; 8) develop and participate in OVW-sponsored judicial forums and roundtable meetings; 9) respond to technical assistance inquiries from courts other than mentee courts; 10) host mentor court open house events for jurisdictions interested in planning domestic violence courts other than the selected mentee courts; and 11) collaborate with OVW technical assistance providers. The tulsa county district court, located in tulsa, oklahoma, is one of the five selected courts.