The grants to improve the criminal justice response program (icjr program)assistsstate, local, and tribal governments, and courts to improve the criminal justice response to domestic violence,…

The Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women awarded Gaston County $499,986 on April 1, 2026, under the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program (CFDA 16.590). The award funds a three-year project running through March 31, 2029, with performance in Gastonia, North Carolina.

The project delivers six categories of activity. Law enforcement training covers use of the High-Risk Case Review Tool to identify intimate partner homicide and non-lethal assault victims at highest risk during investigations, with both triage and on-scene administration instruction. Emergency Medical Services personnel engage in development and implementation of emergency response protocols for sexual assault victims. A specialized prosecutor works with law enforcement on sexual assault cases. Comprehensive advocacy services include crisis intervention, safety planning, and court accompaniment. Training addresses trauma-informed practices and the dynamics of sex trafficking crimes. These activities advance the program's core mission to improve criminal justice response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

The grants to improve the criminal justice response program (icjr program)assistsstate, local, and tribal governments, and courts to improve the criminal justice response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking as serious violations of criminal law, and to seek safety and autonomy for victims. The project will support the following activities: 1) training for law enforcement officers to use the high-risk case review tool to identify victims at highest risk of intimate partner homicide and non-lethal assault during investigations and triage cases for early identification and prioritization of high-risk cases; 2) training for law enforcement officers to administer the high-risk case review tool on scene; 3) engagement of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel in development and implementation of emergency response protocol for sexual assault victims; 4) assignment of a specialized prosecutor to work with law enforcement on sexual assault cases; 5) comprehensive advocacy services including crisis intervention, safety planning, and court accompaniment; and 6) trainings on topics including trauma-informed practices and dynamics of SEX trafficking crimes.