Training for tribal law enforcement officers and prosecutors; establishment of a coordinated tribal community response to violence against women; creation of a tribal court to handle sexual assault and domestic violence cases; hiring of domestic violence victim advocates; creation of an automated communication system to connect tribal courts, police officers, prosecutors, and victim services providers; provision of transitional housing for victims; education and prevention campaigns; and provision of supervised visitation and safe exchange services.
The Department of Justice enforces the law and defends the interest of the United States, ensuring public safety against threats foreign and domestic; providing Federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; seeking just punishment for those guilty of unlawful pursuits; and ensuring fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.
FY 07: Applications: 106, Awards: 82; FY 08: Applications: 66, Awards: 65; FY 09: est. Applications: 66, Awards: 46.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Grants may be awarded for the following statutory purposes: (1) develop and enhance effective governmental strategies to curtail violent crimes against and increase the safety of Indian women consistent with tribal law and custom; (2) increase tribal capacity to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking crimes against Indian women; (3) strengthen tribal justice interventions including tribal law enforcement, prosecution, courts, probation, correctional facilities; (4) enhance services to Indian women victimized by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; (5) work in cooperation with the community to develop education and prevention strategies directed toward issues of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking programs and to address the needs of children exposed to domestic violence; (6) provide programs for supervised visitation and safe visitation exchange of children in situations involving domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking committed by one parent against the other with appropriate security measures, policies, and procedures to protect the safety of victims and their children; (7) provide transitional housing for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including rental or utilities payments assistance and assistance with related expenses such as security deposits and other costs incidental to relocation to transitional housing, and support services to enable a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to locate and secure permanent housing and integrate into a community; and (8) provide legal assistance necessary to provide effective aid to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking who are seeking relief in legal matters arising as a consequence of that abuse or violence, at minimal or no cost to the victims.
Applicants must demonstrate their proposal was developed in consultation with a nonprofit, nongovernmental Indian victim services program, including sexual assault and domestic violence victim services providers in the tribal or local community, or a nonprofit tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalition to the extent that they exist.
In the absence of such a demonstration, the applicant may meet the requirement of this subsection through consultation with women in the community to be served.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Indian tribal governments and authorized designees of tribal governments.
The term "tribal government" means-- (A) the governing body of an Indian tribe; or (B) a tribe, band, pueblo, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation (as defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.
1601 et seq.)), that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Tribal governments and authorized designees of tribal governments.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Aplication 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 or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process 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 Procedures
Applicants must apply through the on-line Grants.gov portal. The receipt, review, and analysis of application 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 Procedures
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
Contact the Office on Violence Against Women for application deadlines.
Authorization
The Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005, Title IX, Section 906, Public Law 109-162, 42 U.S.C. 3796gg-10.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Applicants will be notified before the end of the fiscal year.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Renewals are considered on a case-by-case basis.
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 grant dollars by contributing to the costs of their projects. Supplimental contributions may be cash, in-kind services, or a combination of both.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
At least one year. Funds are released on an as needed basis to the grantee.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Quarterly financial reports are required, as stipulated in the effective edition of the OJP Financial Guide.
Grantees shall also file semi-annual performance reports explaining the activities carried out and an assessment of the effectiveness of those activities in achieving the purposes of the program, including the number of persons served and the number of persons seeking services who could not be served, as well as a final performance report.
Audits
All organizations that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in any fiscal year must have a single audit for that year in accordance with OMB Circular A-133, as amended, unless the audit condition on the award says otherwise. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency not later than 9 months after the end of the grantee's fiscal year.
Records
The award recipient must keep complete records on disposition of funds.
Financial Information
Account Identification
15-0409-0-1-754.
Obigations
(Grants) FY 07 $31,649,599; FY 08 est $30,012,240; and FY 09 est $21,008,568.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$100,000-$900,000; $441,356.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
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 NW, Suite 920; Washington, DC, 20530; Telephone: (202) 307-6026.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Criteria are established by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 and program guidelines published annually.
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