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 Town of Davidson, NC was awarded a $499,227 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, which runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027, aims to enhance the town's capacity to investigate and prosecute domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Key activities include:

1. Establishing a multidisciplinary coordinated community response to these crimes,
2. Hiring a specialized detective to utilize trauma-informed investigation strategies, and
3. Implementing outreach and communication practices to foster trust with victims, improve transparency, and increase offender accountability.

This grant project addresses several of OVW's priority areas, including improving access to justice and enhancing services for sexual assault survivors within the Town of Davidson.

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 town of davidson, in partnership with safe alliance, to implement in the town of davidson, NC addresses EIP purpose areas: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. Additionally, this project addresses OVW priority area 1: access to justice; priority area 2: services to sexual assault survivors. Specific activities include: 1) establish a multidisciplinary coordinated community response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; 2) hire a detective responsible for investigating cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking utilizing trauma-informed strategies; and 3) implement outreach and communication practices to foster trust with victims, improve transparency, and increase accountability of offenders.