What’s New, What’s Happening

In this news article, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is elated to honor Black History Month with grantees and the Department of Justice. For almost 30 years, OVW awarded more than $9.5 billion in grants and cooperative agreements to communities across the United States. This Black History Month, we honor the work of grantees as well as OVW leaders who continue to lift up the voices of Black individuals and lead innovative programs and initiatives to respond to and prevent gender-based violence.

The Justice Department joins law enforcement agencies, victim service providers, survivors, victims, advocates and communities nationwide in recognizing the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Domestic violence is serious and prevalent, and its impact does not stay within the home; it ripples out into workplaces, schools and entire communities. DVAM is a time to show support for those who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence, and to give gratitude to first responders and victim service providers. DVAM encourages communities to bolster prevention efforts, improve responses to meet survivors’ needs, promote best practices and expand access to justice to all communities, especially for those who are underserved and marginalized.

The Justice Department also announces nearly $70 million in FY22 grant funding under the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Improving Criminal Justice Responses (ICJR) to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Grant Program.

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.

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."