FEDERAL AGENCY:

OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

AUTHORIZATION:

Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994; Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, Sections 2001-6, 42 U.S.C. 3796gg to gg-5, as amended; Violence Against Women Act of 2000, Public Law 106-386.

OBJECTIVES:

To assist Indian tribal governments to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to combat violent crimes against women, and to develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

This discretionary grant program is intended to complement and enhance the Law Enforcement and Prosecution Formula Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes Against Women. An Indian tribal government shall not be entitled to funds under this program unless it (or another governmental entity) incurs the full out-of-pocket costs of forensic medical examinations for victims of sexual assault. An Indian tribal government shall not be entitled to funds under this program unless it (1) certifies that its laws, policies, and practices do not require, in connection with the prosecution of any misdemeanor or felony domestic violence offense, or in connection with the filing, issuance, registration, or service of a protection order, or a petition for a protection order, to protect a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault, that the victim bear the costs associated with the filing of criminal charges against the offender, or the costs associated with the filing, issuance, registration, or service of a warrant, protection order, petition for a protection order, or witness subpoena, whether issued inside or outside the tribal jurisdiction or (2) assures the Attorney General that its laws, policies, and practices will be in compliance with these provisions by the date on which the next session of the tribal legislature ends or October 28, 2002. Grants shall provide personnel, training, technical assistance, data collection and other equipment for the most widespread apprehension, prosecution, and adjudication of persons committing violent crimes against women. Applicant Indian tribal governments must certify that at least 25 percent of the total grant award be allocated respectively to law enforcement and prosecution, at least 30 percent to nonprofit, non-governmental victim services programs, and at least 5 percent to tribal courts. Tribal governments that do not have law enforcement authority, prosecution or tribal courts are not required to allocate funds to these areas.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   OJP's Violence Against Women Office will accept applications for the STOP Violence Against Indian Women Discretionary Grant Program from current grantees and new Applicants for fiscal year 2001.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   All Indian tribal governments are eligible to apply. The term Indian tribe means 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.

Credentials/Documentation:   Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular A-87 for State and local governments, and OMB Circular A-110 for Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Nonprofit Organizations.

Pre-application 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 Procedure:   Continuation applicants must submit proposals to the Office of Justice Programs on Standard Form 424 (Federal Assistance Applications). The receipt, review, and analysis of applications will follow Office of Justice Programs policies and procedures for the administration of grant applications. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular A-110.

Award Procedure:   Upon approval by the Office of Justice Programs, a letter is sent to the applicant agency with copies of the Grant Award. One copy of the Grant Award must be signed by an authorized official and returned to the Office of Justice Programs.

Deadlines:   March 8, 2001.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   120 days after receipt of an application.

Appeals:   Not applicable.

Renewals:   Renewals are considered on a case-by-case basis.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   A grant made to an Indian tribal government under this program may not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the projects described in the applications. Applicants should submit a budget which identifies the source of the 25 percent matching funds. An Indian tribal government may satisfy this 25 percent match through in-kind services. Indian tribal governments may meet the 25 percent matching requirement for this program by using funds appropriated by Congress for the activities of any agency of an Indian tribal government or for the activities of the Bureau of Indian Affairs performing law enforcement functions on any Indian lands. All funds designated as match are restricted to the same uses as the Violence Against Women Program funds and must be expended within the grant period.

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:   Semi-annual progress and quarterly financial reports are required, as stipulated in the program regulations and the effective edition of the OJP Financial Guide. Upon completion of the grant period, an Indian tribal grantee shall file a performance report with the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs explaining the activities carried out, including 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.

Audits:   All organizations that expend financial assistance of $300,000 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:   15-0404-0-1-754.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $10,064,713; FY 02 est $10,699,064; and FY 03 est $9,226,850.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
Range - $150,000 - $900,000 Average - $556,802.

In fiscal year 2000, 10 new and 35 continuation grants were awarded.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

OJP Financial Guide is applicable.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   None.

Headquarters Office:   Tia Farmer 145 N. St., Suite 10W121, Washington, District of Columbia 20530 Email: tia.farmer@usdoj.gov Phone: 202-305-1177

Web Site Address:  
http://www.justice.gov/tribal/grants.html

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Training for tribal law enforcement officers and prosecutors; development and enhancement of tribal codes governing domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking; 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; and creation of an automated communication system to connect tribal courts, police officers, prosecutors, and victim services providers.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Criteria are established by the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and program guidelines published annually.