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 County of Pierce, Washington was awarded a $1,000,000 Project Grant 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 award period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

The grant supports the implementation of a coordinated community response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Pierce County. Key activities include: 1) Funding a systems-based advocate to provide victim outreach, support investigations, and assist victims at protection order hearings; 2) Supporting community-based advocates to deliver confidential services and legal advocacy to underserved victims, particularly the deaf/hard of hearing, immigrant, and limited English proficient populations; 3) Creating a policy and procedure handbook for the systems-based advocate role; and 4) Disseminating the handbook and lessons learned to other jurisdictions interested in replicating the trauma-informed, survivor-centered program model.

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 pierce, washington, in partnership with our sisters house, the crystal judson family justice center, pierce county sheriffs office, and pierce county prosecuting attorneys office, implemented in the county of pierce, washington, addresses ICJR purpose areas: 1 and 10. Additionally, this project addresses OVW priority area 2: access to justice. Specific activities include: 1) support for a systems-based advocate to provide victim outreach, support the DV unit detectives investigations, and to support victims at protection order hearings; 2) support for community-based advocates to provide confidential services and legal advocacy to victims at the FJC with an emphasis on deaf or hard of hearing, immigrant, LEP, and underserved victims; 3) creation of a policy and procedure handbook for the systems-based advocate; and 4) dissemination of the manual and lessons learned with other jurisdictions wanting to create a similar trauma-informed, survivor-centered program. .