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…

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 grant to improve the criminal justice response project, the county of cook, in partnership with the victim service provider the young womens christian association of metropolitan chicago, will implement a project addressing the following purpose areas: 5 and 19. Specific activities will include: 1) establishing the consent clinic to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases with issues of consent in chicago; 2) creating a unified structure for chicago police department and state attorneys office to refer sexual assault victims to victim advocacy agencies earlier in the criminal justice process; 3) providing sexual assault victims with a process that does not RE-traumatize them throughout the investigation and prosecution of their case; and 4) increasing criminal justice advocacy service hours and trauma-informed support services provided to sexual assault victims in chicago.