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…

The U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women awarded Bannock County, Idaho a $374,990 Project Grant under the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program (CFDA 16.590). This 3-year grant, effective October 1, 2023, will allow Bannock County and its partner organization, Family Services Alliance, to continue improving the criminal justice response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the local jurisdiction.

Key activities include: 1) providing on-site victim advocacy, crisis intervention, and case management services; 2) offering mental health support for underserved populations; 3) providing guidance and leadership on best practices to rural county courts; and 4) maintaining a multidisciplinary high-risk team to identify and respond to high-risk offenders. These efforts are designed to enhance victim safety, promote offender accountability, and foster collaboration between criminal justice agencies and community-based 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 continuation award to continue improving the jurisdictions criminal justice system response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Specifically, the project will: 1) implement activities focused on victim safety and offender accountability; 2) participate in mandated OVW training and technical assistance; and 3) work toward sustainability of project activities. Through this continuation grants to improve the criminal justice response project, bannock county, in partnership with family services alliance, will implement a project addressing purpose areas 3 and 22 for bannock county, ID. Specific activities will include: 1) collaborate with family services alliance to provide on-site advocacy, crisis intervention, and comprehensive case management to victims of domestic violence and stalking; 2) provide mental health services to underserved populations; 3) provide support, guidance, and leadership on best practices to rural county courts related to domestic violence and stalking; and 4) continue the multidisciplinary high-risk team to identify high-risk offenders through early risk assessment and provide a case-specific multidisciplinary response.