FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VAWO
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2001 202/307-0703
NEARLY $11 MILLION IN JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
FUNDS AVAILABLE
TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ON CAMPUS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Colleges and universities nationwide can compete for
a total of $10.9 million in federal funds to address violence against women,
announced Attorney General John Ashcroft today. The Justice Department’s Violence Against Women Office (VAWO) has
just released its application kit for the FY 2001 Grants to Reduce Violent
Crimes Against Women on Campus Program.
The Campus Program enables institutions of higher education to develop
programs to prevent sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking and
to improve victim services. Developing
and strengthening effective security and investigation strategies to combat
violent crimes against women on campuses also are encouraged.
“Every student should be afforded the opportunity to learn in a safe
and supportive environment,” said Attorney General Ashcroft. “This important program challenges colleges
and universities to think creatively about addressing violence against women on
campus, working with the local community and holding offenders accountable.”
The campus grants will be awarded by summer’s end to colleges and
universities to improve coordination on campus and with local criminal justice
and victim services agencies. Many
campuses are developing campus-based responses that include campus victim
services, campus law enforcement, health services, housing officials,
administrators, student organizations and disciplinary boards. To be most effective and to receive these
funds, campuses must develop partnerships with local law enforcement agencies,
prosecutors’ offices, courts and nonprofit victim advocacy organizations, such
as rape crisis centers.
To receive funding, colleges and universities must train campus police
and members of disciplinary and judicial boards about responding to sexual assault,
domestic and dating violence, and stalking and establish a mandatory prevention
and education program on violence against women for all incoming students.
Grant funds can support training campus administrators, faculty and
staff to respond more effectively to sexual assault, domestic and dating
violence, and stalking. Funds also can
be used for capital improvements, such
as improved lighting, as part of a comprehensive program to reduce and respond
to violence against women on campus.
Revising campus policies and protocols and developing comprehensive
education programs for the prevention of violent crimes against women also can
be supported with grant funds.
“Institutions of higher education have a unique opportunity to create
social change by adopting policies and procedures that emphasize the
seriousness of violent crimes against women,” said Mary Lou Leary, Acting
Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), which
includes VAWO. “We have seen from the
first two years of this program how these grant funds can foster innovative
approaches to preventing violence.”
The FY 2001 Grants to Reduce Violent Crimes Against Women on Campus
Program Application Kit contains the materials and directions necessary to
apply for the campus grant funding.
On-line applications are due April 24, 2001. The application kit, as well as information about VAWO and its programs,
is available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo.
The application kit is also available by calling the Justice Department
Response Center toll-free at 1-800/421-6770.
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VAW01063
For more information
contact: Linda Mansour on 202/616-3534