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 $1 million to Chicago Children's Advocacy Center on April 1, 2026, under the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program (CFDA 16.590). The award funds legal assistance and civil and criminal legal navigation for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking; a pilot high-risk case coordination team to expedite investigations and prosecutions; implementation of an offender data tracking system; training on offender responses as a Family Justice Center; human trafficking training; development of partnerships with human trafficking service providers and coalitions; and targeted outreach and education on human trafficking. The program assists states, local and tribal governments, and courts in improving criminal justice response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Performance occurs in Chicago, Illinois, with a period of performance through March 31, 2029.

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) provide legal assistance and civil/criminal legal navigation for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking; 2) pilot a high-risk case coordination team to expedite investigations and prosecutions; 3) implement a data tracking system for offenders; 4) obtain training on offender responses as a family justice center; 5) provide training on human trafficking; 6) develop partnerships with human trafficking services providers and coalitions; and 7) develop targeted outreach and education on human trafficking.