The enhancing investigations and prosecution of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (EIP) encourages law enforcement agencies and/or prosecutors offices to expand and…

The City of Centerton, AR was awarded a $463,811 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) under the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program (CFDA 16.590). The grant will fund the Centerton Police Department, in partnership with Benton County Advocates and Freedom Finder Partners, to implement a project addressing multiple purpose areas of the OVW's Enhancing Investigations and Prosecution of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking (EIP) initiative. Key activities include hiring a police officer to serve as a domestic violence liaison with community partners and provide victim services for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The project will run from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027 and aims to improve the criminal justice response, enhance investigation and prosecution capabilities, and promote victim safety and offender accountability in Benton County, AR.

The enhancing investigations and prosecution of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (EIP) encourages law enforcement agencies and/or prosecutors offices to expand and improve their capacity to effectively investigate and/or prosecute domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and in so doing, support victim safety and autonomy, hold offenders accountable, and promote agency trust within the surrounding community. The EIP project by the centerton police department, in partnership with benton county advocates and freedom finder partners, to implement in the county of benton, AR addresses EIP purpose areas: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Additionally, this project addresses OVW priority area 1: access to justice. Specific activities include, but not limited to, hiring a police officer to act as the domestic violence liaison with community partners, serving victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.