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 Yakima, Washington, in partnership with the Safehouse Center, received a $353,998 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women under the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program (CFDA 16.590). The grant supports activities to enhance investigations and prosecution of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, with the goal of improving victim safety, offender accountability, and community trust. Key project activities include: 1) funding a victim advocate position, 2) identification of high-risk cases with referrals to the Domestic Violence High Risk Team, 3) improving resources for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and 4) providing training for officers and prosecutors to recognize and address bias about victims of domestic violence. The project will be implemented in the City of Yakima and is set to run 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. Enhancing investigations and prosecution of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (EIP) project by the city of yakima, washington, in partnership with the safehouse center, to be implemented in the city of yakima, addresses EIP purpose areas: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. 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 a victim advocate; 2) identification of high risk cases with referrals to the domestic violence high risk team; 3) improvement in resources for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; and 4) training for officers and prosecutors to recognize and address bias about victims of domestic violence.