The grants to support families in the justice system program (referred to as the justice for families program) was authorized in the violence against women reauthorization act of 2013 to improve the…

The Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women awarded $700,000 to the Circuit Court Cook County on October 1, 2025, under the Justice Systems Response to Families Program (CFDA 16.021) to continue a supervised visitation and safe exchange center and provide civil legal assistance to domestic violence victims.

The Circuit Court Cook County, operating as the Judicial Courts of the State of Illinois Office of the Chief Judge Division, will deliver approximately 400 supervised visitations and 200 safe exchanges through the Loyola University Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Center; maintain a case management and referral liaison position in the court to assist self-represented litigants; and continue the Justice for Families legal practicum at Loyola University Law School to provide civil legal assistance and advice to domestic violence victims in Cook County, Illinois. This is a continuation of award 2020-FJ-AX-0003.

Loyola University of Chicago, Apna Ghar, and the Center for Advancing Domestic Peace partner in service delivery. Work is performed in Chicago, Illinois. The award period runs through September 30, 2028. The Justice Systems Response to Families Program supports court-based and court-related programs, supervised visitation and safe exchange services, training for justice system professionals, civil legal services, and juvenile court resources to improve the justice system's response to families affected by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and child sexual abuse allegations.

The grants to support families in the justice system program (referred to as the justice for families program) was authorized in the violence against women reauthorization act of 2013 to improve the response of the civil and criminal justice system to families with a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse. The program supports the following activities for improving the capacity of courts and communities to respond to families affected by the targeted crimes: court-based and court-related programs; supervised visitation and safe exchange by and between parents; training for people who work with families in the court system; civil legal services; and the provision of resources in juvenile court matters. Projects supported by the justice for families program are those that focus on keeping victims and their children safe from further abuse and holding offenders accountable. Through this continuation justice for families project, the state of illinois circuit court of cook county in partnership with loyola university of chicago (LUC), apna ghar and the center for advancing domestic peace (CADP), will provide approximately 400 supervised visitations and 200 safe exchanges at the loyola university supervised visitation and safe exchange center; continue the case management and referral liaison (CMRL) position in the court to serve as a resource for self-represented litigants; and continue the JFF legal practicum at loyola university law school to provide civil legal assistance and advice to victims of domestic violence in cook county, illinois. This award is a continuation of 2020-FJ-AX-0003.