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…

The Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded a $500,000 Project Grant under the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program (CFDA 16.590) to the County of Buncombe, North Carolina. The grant will fund the following key products and services over a 3-year period starting October 1, 2024:

1. Hiring one Trauma-Informed Legal Assistant within the Office of the District Attorney (40th Judicial District) to provide guidance on victim rights, support during trials, and assistance to prosecutors handling domestic violence, sexual assault, and homicide cases.

2. Funding two Trauma-Informed Family Justice Center Intake Specialists to explain available services, review confidentiality, coordinate initial service provision, and guide clients through the Family Justice Center.

3. Providing training to Family Justice Center partner staff on trauma-informed practices through OVW-sponsored and Family Justice Center Alliance events.

The grant involves sub-awards to the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts and the nonprofit organization Helpmate Inc. to deliver the specialized legal assistant and intake specialist services, respectively.

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 county of buncombe in partnership with helpmate, our voice, pisgah legal services, mountain child advocacy center, and mission health to be implemented in buncombe county, NC addresses ICJR purpose area(S): 5 and 10. Additionally, this project addresses OVW priority area 2: access to justice; and priority area 3: services to sexual assault survivors. Specific activities include: 1) funding one trauma informed legal assistant (TILA) within the office of the district attorney (40TH judicial district); 2) funding two trauma informed family justice center intake specialists; and 3) training family justice center partner staff with OVW sponsored and/or family justice center alliance events in each project year.