What's New, What's Happening

The Justice Department announced today that it will award more than $246 million in grants to American Indian and Alaska Native communities to improve public safety and serve crime victims. The announcement coincides with the 17th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation, held from Sept. 21st to 23rd in Anchorage, Alaska. The purpose of this event is to solicit recommendations from Tribal leaders on administering Tribal funds and programs and enhancing the safety of American Indian and Alaska Native women from domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, homicide, stalking, and sex trafficking, along with strengthening the federal response to these crimes. More than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native adults have suffered violence in their lifetime, equating to nearly three million people who have experienced stalking, sexual violence, or physical violence by intimate partners. “Ensuring access to justice for all is at the core of the Justice Department’s mission and is the key objective of multiple efforts across the Department,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. The Tribal grant awards are designed to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses, improve the handling of child abuse cases, combat domestic and sexual violence, support Tribal youth programs, and fund an array of services for American Indian and Alaska Native crime victims. The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) administer the awards.