The grants to improve the criminal justice responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking grant program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. 10461-10465 and implemented through…

This $700,000 Project Grant awarded 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) supports Missoula County and its partner YWCA Missoula in implementing a coordinated community response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Missoula County, Montana. The key project activities include: 1) providing specialized trauma-informed victim-centered services, 2) developing a Missoula Family Justice Center, and 3) hosting specialized training and workforce development for victim services. This 3-year grant project, awarded on October 1, 2024, aims to enhance investigation and prosecution capabilities, improve victim services, and foster a collaborative approach to effectively respond to these crimes within the local community.

The grants to improve the criminal justice responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking grant program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. 10461-10465 and implemented through regulations at 28 C.F.R. Part 90, subpart D. The program fosters victim safety and offender accountability in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by encouraging state, local, and tribal governments and courts to work collaboratively with community partners to identify problems and share ideas that will result in effectively responding to these crimes. An integral component of this program is the development, revitalization, or enhancement of a coordinated community response that brings together criminal justice agencies, victim services providers, and community-based organizations that respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Grants to improve the criminal justice response (ICJR) project by missoula county, in partnership with ywca missoula, implemented in missoula county, montana addresses ICJR purpose areas 5, 10, 17, and 19. This project does not address any OVW priorities. Specific activities include: 1) specialized trauma-informed victim centered services; 2) development of the missoula family justice center; and 3) host specialized training and workforce development for victim services.