 |
|
 |
| |
|
| Violence Against Women Act | | 
Violence Against Women Act
Summary
The Services-Training-Officers-Prosecutors (STOP) Grant, a component of the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), provides funds and technical assistance to local law enforcement, prosecution, and victim services to improve the criminal justice system's response to violence against women. Of the total grant received by Commerce, more than 85 percent is passed through to communities.
Local law enforcement, prosecution, and victim services use funds from the STOP Grant to support activities such as hiring additional staff, creating specialized units and teams to devote to crimes of violence against women, training staff and volunteers, developing protocols, and purchasing equipment.
The STOP Grant encourages communities to be proactive in addressing violence against women, and to increase the overall level of safety for adult victims of SA, DV and stalking. The federal requirements for this program mandate that specified amounts must be distributed to law enforcement, prosecution, victim services, and court-related projects to encourage collaboration and teamwork at the local level. The emphasis on a collaborative approach is in recognition that victims are best served when all systems are working together toward the common goals of supporting victims and holding offenders accountable.
Each state applies annually to the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, for the state's share of the funding, which is distributed by a formula based on population. In Washington State, a coordinating committee was assembled to develop the state plan. The plan directs at least 80 percent of the funds to local communities (counties are used as a geographical, rather than a political recipient).
The application process for local communities requires a collaborative, community approach. Each county submits one proposal to Commerce stating what they plan to accomplish with their funds. The proposal must fit within one or more of the program purposes determined by the Violence Against Women Act. Every county receives a base amount with additional funds according to the population and geographic size of the county. Thus, the awards range from approximately $40,000 to over $200,000.
For More Information
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|