COLUMBUS —The Ohio Department of Public Safety’s (ODPS) Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) has announced more than $4 million in federal grant funding to victim service providers, law enforcement and prosecution, court, and corrections agencies throughout Ohio.
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant program, administered by OCJS, allows local governments to support a broad range of activities to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
“These grants will go toward services that can help provide victims with the protection and services they need to pursue safe and healthy lives, while simultaneously enabling communities to effectively combat violence against women and their families,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
VAWA funds contribute toward developing effective responses to violence against women through activities that include direct services, crisis intervention, transitional housing, legal assistance to victims, court improvement, and training for law enforcement and courts.
- Law Enforcement $801,733.70
- Prosecution $801,733.70
- Victim Services $962,080.44
- Discretionary Programs $481,040.22
- Courts $160,346.74
- Cuyahoga County Regional Planning Unit $547,525.46
- Franklin County Regional Planning Unit $621,142.32
- Lucas County Regional Planning Unit $225,451.66
In addition to providing funding specifically for courts, prosecution, law enforcement, and victim service agencies to help combat domestic violence throughout the state, OCJS also awarded $146,000 to agencies in Franklin, Hamilton, and Summit counties to assist them in providing culturally-specific services such as bilingual advocates and culturally specific outreach to survivors.
For more information on the grants and a complete list of grant awards, visit the OCJS Web site at: http://www.ocjs.ohio.gov/