Evaluation of the STOP Block Grants to Combat Violence Against Women Act of 1994: The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (1996 Report)

The Violen ceAg ainst WomenAct of 1994Evaluation of the STOPBlock Grants to CombatViolence Against WomenMartha BurtwithLisa New markMary NorrisDaryl DyerAdele HarrellPr ogr am on Law and BehaviorThe Urban Inst itut e Conclusions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of thestaff members, officers, trustees, advisory groups, or funders of the Urban Institute. Cont ent sHIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REPORTvCHAPTER 1:Introduction, Background, Legislative Intent1Facts about Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence2Legislative, Policy, and Practice Changes During the 1970s and 1980s3Sexual Assault—Recent History4Domestic Violence—Recent History5The VAWA Legislation7Purpose of This Report8Role of the Urban Institute10CHAPTER 2: Accomplishments— Implementation of the Program at the Federal Level13Federal Actions Related to the STOP Grants, 1994-199514Preparing and Issuing the Program Rule14The Grantee Conference15Technical Assistance Prior to Submitting Implementation Plans17Processing State Implementation Plans18Soliciting and Awarding Indian Tribal Grants18Anticipated Second-Year Federal Actions19On-going Technical Assistance20Summary21CHAPTER 3:Accomplishments— Implementation of the Program at theState Level23How To Interpret the Data That Follow24Existing State Laws, Policies, and Capacities24 State Laws24Statewide Training and Response Policies26Special Units26Statewide Coalitions27Statewide Coordinating Bodies27State Actions on STOP through December 199528Eliminating Costs to Victims28Planning and Implementation—Collaboration among Sectors29Anticipated Timing of State Actions during 199631Summary32CHAPTER 4:State Achievements33State Matching Contributions33The Three Priority Areas: Law Enforcement, Prosecution, Victim Services34The Seven Legislative Purposes35Training36Special Units36Policies, Procedures, Protocols37Data Collection and Communications38Victim Services38Stalking39Programs Addressing the Needs of Indian Tribes40Distribution of Effort Across Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking40Distribution across Underserved Populations41Grantee Evaluation Plans41Plan Implementation and Impacts42CHAPTER 5:Prospects for the March 1997 Report43REFERENCES45APPENDIX:Advisory Group Members49THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT OF 1994iv THE URBAN INSTITUTE Highligh ts fromthe ReportThe Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and LawEnforcement Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-322), provides for Law Enforcement and ProsecutionGrants to states under Chapter 2 of the Safe Streets Act. The grants are “ to assist States,Indian tribal governments, and units of local government to develop and strengthen effective lawenforcement and prosecution strategies to combat violent crimes against women, and to developand strengthen victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women.” This reportdocuments the federal and state activities and accomplishments in the initial year of implementingthe resulting “ STOP Violence Against Women” grants program. It was developed under acompetitively awarded grant from the National Institute of Justice to provide a basis for reportingon the progress and impact of the program.At the federal level, the Justice Department moved quickly to translate the legislative conceptto a functional reality. The V iolence Against Women Grants Office (V AWGO) was established inthe Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and program rules and application procedures were promptlyassembled. Grants were awarded within weeks of application to VAWGO; implementation planswere approved in a timely manner.One key to timely implementation was the technical assistance that OJP provided to granteesto help them prepare state plans which would qualify for funding. A conference, “Collaborating toSTOP Violence Against Women,” was held in July 1995; teams from all 56 states and territoriesattended. Most state teams included six representatives such as state administrators, police officers,prosecutors, domestic violence advocates and service providers, sexual assault advocates and service providers, and court managers or judges. Representatives from approximately 25 nationalgroups attended, including the National District Attorneys Association, the American ProsecutorsResearch Institute, the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, the National CoalitionAgainst Sexual Assault, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Approximately 450people participated in the conference. Following the conference, opportunities were provided forgrantees to visit promising programs