Las Vegas, Nev. - The North Las Vegas Police Department has been awarded $286,439 by the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women to implement a project to improve police response to domestic violence, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.

The grant, awarded on July 28, 2005, under the program, "Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies," implements certain provisions of the Violence Against Women Act, enacted in September 1994. The program enhances victim safety and offender accountability in cases of domestic violence by encouraging jurisdictions to implement mandatory and pro-arrest policies as part of a coordinated community response.

According to the grant award, the City of North Las Vegas, in collaboration with the nonprofit victim service providers Safe Nest, Shade Tree, and the Rape Crisis Center, will implement a project to improve police response to domestic violence. Through the initial grant award, the North Las Vegas Police Department plans to hire a detective dedicated to domestic violence cases who will be responsible for providing follow-up on all domestic violence cases and for providing domestic violence training to all North Las Vegas police officers.

Under federal law, it is unlawful for any person who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence or who is subject to a restraining order, to possess a firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate commerce. These individuals could be charged by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada. If convicted, they would face up to 10 years in federal prison.

Since its inception in 1995, the Office on Violence Against Women has handled the Department of Justice's legal and policy issues regarding violence against women, coordinated Departmental efforts, provided national and international leadership, received international visitors interested in learning about the federal government's role in addressing violence against women, and responded to requests for information regarding violence against women. The Office works closely with components of the U.S. Department of Justice and state, tribal and local jurisdictions to implement the mandates of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation.

Under the violence against women grant programs administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women has awarded more than $1 billion in grant funds to the states and territories. These grant programs help state, tribal, and local governments and community-based agencies to train personnel, establish specialized domestic violence and sexual assault units, assist victims of violence, and hold perpetrators accountable. They also support community partnerships among police, prosecutors, victim advocates, and others to address violence against women.

Questions concerning the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies Program may be directed to the Office on Violence Against Women at (202) 307-6026. Additional information is available on its website: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/about.htm

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