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.