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 Office on Violence Against Women awarded Human Options, Inc., $1 million in a Project Grant effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2029 under the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program (CFDA 16.590).

The award funds domestic violence investigations conducted by the Santa Ana Police Department and Irvine Police Department, victim advocacy and legal advocacy services through Human Options, co-location of domestic violence advocates from Human Options at both police departments, law enforcement training on domestic violence lethality assessment, and counseling and support groups for domestic violence victims. Performance takes place in Irvine, California.

Human Options is a tax-exempt nonprofit based in Irvine that provides domestic violence and homelessness services. The organization has received four prior awards from the Office on Violence Against Women, with recent grants supporting victim safety initiatives and transitional housing for domestic violence survivors. The organization operates primarily as a federal grant recipient, with the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Continuum of Care program representing the largest share of its funding portfolio.

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) domestic violence investigations through the santa ANA police department and the irvine police department; 2) victim advocacy and legal advocacy through human options; 3) CO-location of domestic violence advocates from human options at the santa ANA police department and irvine police department; 4) training for law enforcement on a domestic violence lethality assessment; and 5) counseling and support groups to victims of domestic violence.