Program Descriptions
Program Number
16.013
Title
Violence Against Women Act Court Training And Improvement Grants
Federal Agency
OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Authorization
This program was authorized by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005, Title I, Section 105, Public Law 109- 162, 42 U.S.C. 14043a.
Status
Active
Objectives
To improve court responses to adult and youth domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants (Discretionary).
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds may be used for the following statutory program purposes: (1) improved internal civil and criminal court functions, responses, practices, and procedures; (2) education for court-based and court-related personnel on issues relating to victims' needs, including safety, security, privacy, confidentiality, and economic independence, as well as information about perpetrator behavior and best practices for holding perpetrators accountable; (3) collaboration and training with Federal, State, tribal, territorial, and local public agencies and officials and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations to improve implementation and enforcement of relevant Federal, State, tribal, territorial, and local law; (4) enabling courts or court-based or court-related programs to develop new or enhance current -- (A) court infrastructure (such as specialized courts, dockets, intake centers, or interpreter services); (B) community-based initiatives within the court system (such as court watch programs, victim assistants, or community-based supplementary services); (C) offender management, monitoring, and accountability programs; (D) safe and confidential informationstorage and -sharing databases within and between court systems; (E) education and outreach programs to improve community access, including enhanced access for underserved populations; and (F) other projects likely to improve court responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and (5) providing technical assistance to Federal, State, tribal, territorial, or local courts wishing to improve their practices and procedures or to develop new programs.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Federal, State, tribal, territorial, or local courts or court-based programs; and national, State, tribal, territorial, or local private, nonprofit organizations with demonstrated expertise in developing and providing judicial education about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Courts and nonprofit organizations.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants must certify in writing that: (A) any courts or court-based personnel working directly with or making decisions about adult or youth parties experiencing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking have completed or will complete education about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; (B) any education program developed under section 14043 of this title has been or will be developed with significant input from and in collaboration with a national, tribal, State, territorial, or local victim services provider or coalition; and (C) the grantee's internal organizational policies, procedures, or rules do not require mediation or counseling between offenders and victims physically together in cases where domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking is an issue.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office designated as the single point of contact in his or her state for more information on the processes the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Application forms furnished by the Federal agency, in accordance with 28 CFR Part 66 (Common Rule), must be used for this program.
Application Procedure
Applicants must apply on-line at the http://grants.gov portal. The receipt, review, and analysis of applications will follow Office on Violence Against Women policies and procedures for the administration of grant applications. This program is subject to provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedure
Upon approval by the Office on Violence Against Women, online notification is sent to the applicant agency with copies of the Grant Award. One copy of the Grant Award must be signed electronically by an authorized official and returned to the Office of Justice Programs.
Deadlines
This is a newly established program. OVW expects to issue a solicitation in Fiscal Year 2009. Check for online announcements at http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Applicants will be notified by the end of the fiscal year.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Grants will be made for amounts up to 100 percent of the costs of the programs or projects contained in the approved applications. Match is not required for this grant program; however, applicants are encouraged to maximize the impact of Federal dollars by contributing to the cost of the project. Supplemental contributions may be cash, in-kind services, or a combination of both.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Information regarding length of awards will be included in an Application Kit for the program. Funds are released on an as-needed basis to the grantee.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Semi-annual progress reports, quarterly financial reports, and a final report are required, as stipulated in the program regulations and the effective edition of the OJP Financial Guide. Progress reports shall explain the activities carried out and include an assessment of the effectiveness of those activities in achieving the purposes of the program, including number of persons served and numbers of persons seeking services who could not be served.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organization," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
The award recipient must keep complete records on disposition of funds.
Financial Information
Account Identification
15-0409-0-1-754.
Obligations
FY 07 $0; FY 08 est not available; and FY 09 est 1,579,200.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable.
Program Accomplishments
Not applicable.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
The OJP Financial Guide is applicable.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Office on Violence Against Women, Department of Justice, 800 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20530; Telephone: (202) 307-6026.
Web Site Address
http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov
Related Programs
16.588, Violence Against Women Formula Grants
16.587, Violence Against Women Discretionary Grants For Indian Tribal Governments
16.589, Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, And Stalking Assistance Program
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Criteria are established by the Office on Violence Against Women and included in an annual Application Kit.
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