The enhancing investigations and prosecution of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking initiative (EIP) encourages law enforcement agencies and/or prosecutors offices to…

The Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women awarded Boone County, Missouri $717,628 on May 1, 2026, under the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program (CFDA 16.590) to implement an Enhancing Investigations and Prosecution of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Initiative. The award funds four core activities through April 30, 2029: implementation of a risk assessment tool to classify and expedite high-risk cases and advocate for higher bonds for dangerous offenders; hiring a dedicated investigator to conduct victim outreach; strengthening investigation and prosecution of strangulation cases through emphasis on non-visible signs, historical data, medical evaluation, and aggressive felony prosecution; and delivering training to law enforcement and prosecutors on domestic violence dynamics, trauma-informed investigation, lethality assessments, and strangulation case identification and handling. The recipient is Boone County Division, headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, where performance occurs. The assistance type is a project grant with a three-year period of performance.

The enhancing investigations and prosecution of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking initiative (EIP) encourages law enforcement agencies and/or prosecutors offices to expand and improve their capacity to effectively investigate and/or prosecute domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and in so doing, support victim safety and autonomy, hold offenders accountable, and promote agency trust within the surrounding community. This dual law enforcement- and prosecution-focused project will: (1) implement a risk assessment to classify and expedite high-risk cases, advocating for higher bonds for dangerous offenders; (2) involve a new investigator who will conduct outreach to victims; (3) strengthen investigation and prosecution of strangulation cases by emphasizing non-visible signs, historical data, medical evaluation, and aggressive felony prosecution; and (4) provide training to law enforcement and prosecutors on dynamics of domestic violence, trauma-informed investigation, lethality assessments, and identifying and handling cases involving strangulation.