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 Saginaw, Michigan was awarded a $448,723 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 project, running from October 2024 to September 2027, aims to enhance the city's capacity to effectively investigate and prosecute domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking crimes. Key activities include: 1) supporting a county-wide Sexual Assault Response Team, 2) funding a dedicated investigator for these cases, 3) implementing trauma-informed investigation strategies, and 4) providing law enforcement training on victim-centered and offender-focused approaches. This grant project aligns with OVW's priorities of improving access to justice and services for sexual assault survivors within the Saginaw community.

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. Enhancing investigations and prosecution of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (EIP) project by city of saginaw, michigan, in partnership with child and family services sexual assault center, to be implemented in the city of saginaw, michigan, addresses EIP purpose areas: 1, 2, 3, and 5. Additionally, this project addresses OVW priority area 1: access to justice and priority area 2: services to sexual assault survivors. Specific activities include: 1) support for the county-wide sexual assault response team; 2) support for an investigator dedicated to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking cases; 3) support for trauma-informed investigation strategies; and 4) law enforcement training on the implementation of trauma-informed, victim-centered, and offender-focused strategies.