The grants to support families in the justice system program (referred to as the justice for families program) was authorized in the violence against women reauthorization act of 2013 to improve the…

The City of Baltimore, in partnership with several local organizations, received a $700,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women under the Grants to Support Families in the Justice System (Justice Systems Response to Families) program (CFDA 16.021). The 36-month project, commencing on October 1, 2023, will provide the following key services:

1. Continuing a full-time court liaison to offer direct services to survivors seeking civil and criminal remedies; 2) Funding a part-time supervised visitation supervisor and monitor to facilitate safe visitation and exchanges; and 3) Maintaining a full-time staff attorney to represent high-risk victims of intimate partner violence. These activities are designed to improve the justice system's response to families affected by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and child sexual abuse in the City of Baltimore.

The grants to support families in the justice system program (referred to as the justice for families program) was authorized in the violence against women reauthorization act of 2013 to improve the response of the civil and criminal justice system to families with a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse. The program supports the following activities for improving the capacity of courts and communities to respond to families affected by the targeted crimes: court-based and court-related programs; supervised visitation and safe exchange by and between parents; training for people who work with families in the court system; civil legal services; and the provision of resources in juvenile court matters. Projects supported by the justice for families program are those that focus on keeping victims and their children safe from further abuse and holding offenders accountable. Through this continuation justice for families project, the mayors office of neighborhood safety and engagement (MONSE), in partnership with the house of ruth maryland, INC., baltimore police department, baltimore city visitation center, and the baltimore district and circuit courts, will implement a comprehensive project addressing the following purpose areas: 1) supervised visitation and safe exchange; 5) court and court-based programs and services; and 6) civil legal assistance for the city of baltimore, maryland. Specific activities will include: 1) continuing a 1.0 FTE court liaison to provide direct services to survivors seeking relief through civil and criminal remedies; 2) providing a part-time supervised visitation supervisor and visitation monitor to continue providing supervised visitations and exchanges; and 3) continuing a 1.0 FTE staff attorney to represent high-risk victims of intimate partner violence.