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 awarded a $1,200,000 Project Grant under the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program (CFDA 16.590) to the Wisconsin Department of Justice. This three-year grant, which commenced on October 1, 2024, aims to improve criminal justice responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the state of Wisconsin.

Key project activities include: 1) Providing legal advocacy and representation to survivors with disabilities who engage with civil court systems regarding family and safety matters, with a focus on immigrant survivors with disabilities; 2) Providing intensive training, support, and guidance for two community-based Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs); and 3) Delivering additional statewide training for SART members. The project also addresses the OVW's priority area of services for sexual assault survivors. Additionally, Disability Rights Wisconsin, Inc. has been awarded a sub-grant of an unspecified amount to advocate for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking with disabilities across the state of Wisconsin.

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 department of justice wisconsin, in partnership with disability rights wisconsin and wisconsin coalition against sexual assault, implemented in the state of wisconsin, addresses icjr purpose areas: 5, 8, 15, 18, and 19. Additionally, this project addresses OVW priority area 3: services to sexual assault survivors. Specific activities include: 1) providing legal advocacy or representation to survivors with disabilities who engage with civil court systems regarding family and safety, with a focus on immigrant survivors with disabilities; 2) intensive training, support, and guidance for two community based sexual assault response teams (sarts); and 3) additional training for sart members statewide. .