The improving criminal justice responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking grant program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. §§ 10461-10465 and implemented through regulations…

The Office on Violence Against Women within the Department of Justice awarded $500,000 to Equinox Inc. through the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program (CFDA 16.590) on October 1, 2022 for a project period ending September 30, 2026. Equinox will use the funding to improve the criminal justice system response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Albany, New York by implementing a strategic plan developed with community partners. Key activities include identifying a project coordinator and community response team, conducting needs assessments, selecting evidence-informed practices, participating in OVW training, creating and implementing a strategic plan focused on victim safety and offender accountability. The grant aims to foster sustainable, coordinated responses among criminal justice, victim services, and community organizations.

The improving criminal justice responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking grant program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. §§ 10461-10465 and implemented through regulations at 28 C.F.R. Part 90, subpart D. The program fosters victim safety and offender accountability in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by encouraging state, local, and tribal governments and courts to work collaboratively with community partners to identify problems and share ideas that will result in effectively responding to these crimes. An integral component of this program is the development, revitalization, or enhancement of a coordinated community response that brings together criminal justice agencies, victim services providers, and community-based organizations that respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The grantee, in collaboration with its project partners, will use this icjr award to improve their jurisdiction's criminal justice system response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by implementing activities that focus on victim safety and offender accountability and create sustainable project activities. The project will: 1) identify a project coordinator to lead the project and any additional members of the coordinated community response team; 2) complete community assessments to inform the development of a strategic plan; 3) identify evidence-informed practices or tools that may be implemented at the agency and community level; 4) participate in mandated OVW training and technical assistance, including utilizing OVW culturally specific and underserved TTA providers; 5) create and submit, to OVW, a strategic plan outlining its community goals; and 6) implement the strategic plan.