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 County of Lancaster Administration Building was awarded a $493,287 Project Grant by 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 funding will support the 6th Judicial Circuit Solicitors Office, in partnership with Palmetto Citizens Against Sexual Assault, to implement activities in Lancaster and Chester Counties, South Carolina that address the EIP program's purpose areas of enhancing investigations and prosecutions of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Key activities include: 1) hiring a part-time investigator to assist with criminal investigations, and 2) hiring an attorney to prosecute related cases and coordinate collaborative efforts with project partners. The grant period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

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 6TH judicial circuit solicitors office, in partnership with palmetto citizens against sexual assault, to implement in lancaster and chester counties, SC addresses EIP purpose areas: 1, 2, 3, and 4. Additionally, this project addresses OVW priority area 1: access to justice; priority area 2: services to sexual assault survivors. Specific activities include: 1) hire a part-time investigator to assist with criminal investigations of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and 2) hire an attorney to prosecute domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking cases and coordinate collaborative efforts with project partners.