What’s New, What’s Happening

The Justice Department announced today nearly $22 million in upcoming grant awards to address and prevent sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking on college campuses, provide services to youth victims and children exposed to such violence and engage men and boys as allies.

 Specifically, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) will award $10,688,200 through 36 grants to address and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault on college campuses through the Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking on Campus Program (Campus). In addition, the Consolidated Youth and Engaging Men Grant Program (CYEM) will award $11,031,653 through 25 grants to implement programming that encourages men and boys to be role models and change agents in their communities working toward the goal of eliminating sexual and domestic violence.

Of particular note, the Campus awards include support for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic serving institutions (HSIs), and Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs). 

“One of OVW’s top priorities is to improve our outreach and services to underserved communities,” said OVW Acting Director Allison Randall. “We recognize that HBCUs, HSIs and TCUs face unique issues and challenges in preventing and responding to campus violence and we’re honored to work with grantees in 2023 and in the years to come to support survivors. We’re grateful to announce these awards during September when we are celebrating National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week and in recognition of the National HBCU Week conference held by the White House.”   

OVW will announce FY23 grant solicitations for both grant programs in late fall. Please visit www.justice.gov/ovw for more information on upcoming grant opportunities.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta today applauded the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, which President Joe Biden signed into law this week. 

"Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking are serious violations of criminal law that demand our sustained attention and action," said Attorney General Garland. "The Department of Justice welcomes the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and will continue to use the resources at our disposal to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and provide critical services for survivors."

On February 24, 2022, at the launch of LETTAC and DV RISC, two new survivor-centered resources, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said “We cannot reduce, prevent or end violence without providing law enforcement agencies with the tools, training and resources they need."