Justice Systems Response to Families

The Grants to Support Families in the Justice System program (referred to as Justice Systems Response to Families Program) was authorized in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2013 to improve the response of all aspects of the c

Eligible applicants are states, local governments, courts (including juvenile courts), Indian tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, legal services providers, and victim service providers.

Courts, supervised visitation providers, and other nonprofit organizations

Under 42 USC §10420(d), all applicants for the Justice Systems Response to Families Program must: • Certify that the organizational policies of the applicant do not require mediation or counseling involving offenders and victims being physically present in the same place, in cases where domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking is alleged. For a court-based program, applicants must also: • Certify that victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking are not charged fees or any other costs related to the filing, petitioning, modifying, issuance, registration, enforcement, withdrawal, or dismissal of matters relating to the domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Applicants proposing to operate supervised visitation programs and services or safe visitation exchange must also: • Demonstrate that adequate security measures, including adequate facilities, procedures, and personnel capable of preventing violence, and adequate standards are, or will be, in place (including the development of protocols or policies to ensure that confidential information is not shared with courts, law enforcement agencies, or child welfare agencies unless necessary to ensure the safety of any child or adult using the services of a program funded by OVW). Any grantee or subgrantee providing legal assistance with funds awarded under this program shall certify in writing that: (1) Any person providing legal assistance with funds through this program (A) has demonstrated expertise in providing legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or child sexual abuse in the targeted population; or (B) is partnered with an entity or person that has demonstrated expertise described in subparagraph (A); (2) Any person providing legal assistance through this program has completed, or will complete, training in connection with domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or child sexual abuse, and related legal issues, including training on evidence-based risk factors for domestic and dating violence homicide; (3) Any training program conducted in satisfaction of the requirement of paragraph (1) has been or will be developed with input from and in collaboration with a tribal, state, territorial, or local domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or child sexual abuse victim service provider or coalition, as well as appropriate tribal, state, territorial, and local law enforcement officials; (4) Any person or organization providing legal assistance with funds through this program has informed and will continue to inform state, local, or tribal domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking programs and coalitions, as well as appropriate state and local law enforcement officials of their work; and (5) The grantee's organizational policies do not require mediation or counseling involving offenders and victims physically together, in cases where sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or child sexual abuse is an issue. Non-profit organizations must be an organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code. All such applicants are required to submit a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service recognizing their tax-exempt status.

Grants can be used for the following statutory program purpose areas: 1) Provide supervised visitation and safe visitation exchange of children and youth by and between parents in situations involving domestic violence, dating violence, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, or stalking; 2) Develop and promote state, local, and tribal legislation, policies, and best practices for improving civil and criminal court functions, responses, practices, and procedures in cases involving a history of domestic violence or sexual assault, or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse, including cases in which the victim proceeds pro se; 3) Educate court-based and court-related personnel and court-appointed personnel (including custody evaluators and guardians ad litem) and child protective services workers on the dynamics of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including information on perpetrator behavior, evidence-based risk factors for domestic and dating violence homicide, and on issues relating to the needs of victims, including safety, security, privacy, and confidentiality, including cases in which the victim proceeds pro se; 4) Provide appropriate resources in juvenile court matters to respond to dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault (including child sexual abuse), and stalking and ensure necessary services dealing with the health and mental health of victims are available; 5) Enable courts or court-based or court-related programs to develop or enhance- (a) court infrastructure (such as specialized courts, consolidated courts, dockets, intake centers, or interpreter services); (b) community-based initiatives within the court system (such as court watch programs, victim assistants, pro se victim assistance programs, or community-based supplementary services); (c) offender management, monitoring, and accountability programs; (d) safe and confidential information-storage and information-sharing databases within and between court systems; (e) education and outreach programs to improve community access, including enhanced access for underserved populations; and (f) other projects likely to improve court responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; 6) Provide civil legal assistance and advocacy services, including legal information and resources in cases in which the victim proceeds pro se, (a) to victims of domestic violence; and (b) nonoffending parents in matters that involve allegations of child sexual abuse, that relate to family matters including civil protection orders, custody, and divorce, and in which the other party is represented by counsel; 7) Collect data and provide training and technical assistance, including developing state, local, and tribal model codes and policies, to improve the capacity of grantees and communities to address the civil justice needs of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who have legal representation, who are proceeding pro se, or who are proceeding with the assistance of a legal advocate; and 8) Improve training and education to assist judges, judicial personnel, attorneys, child welfare personnel, and legal advocates in the civil justice system.

Information regarding length of awards will be included in an annual notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the program. Funds are released on an as-needed basis to the grantee.

Applicants must apply through the on-line Grants.gov portal and the Department of Justice's JustGrants System.

Criteria for award selection is specified in the program notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).

Upon approval by the Office on Violence Against Women, online notification is sent to the applicant agency. The Authorized Representative must accept the award online.

Applicants will be notified by the end of the fiscal year.

Renewals are considered on a case-by-case basis.