Demonstration Program on Trauma-Informed, Victim Centered Training for Law Enforcement

The Attorney General shall award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to collaborate with their mandatory partners to carry out the demonstration program under this section by implementing evidence-based or promising investigative polic

The purpose of the program is to implement evidence-based or promising investigative policies and practices to incorporate trauma-informed, victim-centered techniques

A State, local, territorial, or Tribal law enforcement agency in partnership with a national, regional, or local victim services organization or agency

An eligible entity that receives an award under this section shall use the funds to- (1) train covered individuals within the demonstration site of the eligible entity to use evidence-based, trauma-informed, and victim-centered techniques and knowledge of crime victims' rights throughout an investigation into domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including by- (A) conducting victim interviews in a manner that- (i) elicits valuable information about the domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; and (ii) avoids re-traumatization of the victim; (B) conducting field investigations that mirror best and promising practices available at the time of the investigation; (C) customizing investigative approaches to ensure a culturally and linguistically appropriate approach to the community being served; (D) becoming proficient in understanding and responding to complex cases, including cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking- (i) facilitated by alcohol or drugs; (ii) involving strangulation; (iii) committed by a non-stranger; (iv) committed by an individual of the same sex as the victim; (v) involving a victim with a disability; (vi) involving a male victim; or (vii) involving a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (commonly referred to as "LGBT") victim; (E) developing collaborative relationships between- (i) law enforcement officers and other members of the response team; and (ii) the community being served; and (F) developing an understanding of how to define, identify, and correctly classify a report of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; and (2) promote the efforts of the eligible entity to improve the response of covered individuals to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking through various communication channels, such as the website of the eligible entity, social media, print materials, and community meetings, in order to ensure that all covered individuals within the demonstration site of the eligible entity are aware of those efforts and included in trainings, to the extent practicable.

Information regarding length of awards will be included in an annual notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the program.

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.