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OVW Archived Blogs

OVW Archived Blogs

Blog posts

Many Sexual Assaults Follow Stalking

January 12, 2021
Courtesy of Laura L. Rogers, Principal Deputy Director, Office on Violence Against Women
Stalking is one of the four pillars of the Violence Against Women Act, the law that created the Office on Violence Against Women and has led to more than $9 billion in federal funding dedicated to the fight against domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. January is Stalking Awareness Month to raise awareness about the crime of stalking. We have long known that many sexual assaults don’t just spontaneously occur when the sexual assault happens --but rather stalking of...
Updated January 20, 2021

ATF Agents Protect Victims of Domestic Violence by Enforcing Federal Gun Laws

December 15, 2020
Courtesy of Laura L. Rogers, Principal Deputy Director, Office on Violence Against Women
The Gun Control Act bans the possession of firearms by individuals convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. United States Code (USC) Section 922(g)(9) allows for the removal of firearms. In passing the law, Congress noted that “anyone who attempts or threatens violence against a loved one has demonstrated that he or she poses an unacceptable risk, and should be prohibited from possessing firearms.” In the new episode of our Patchwork podcast, Regina Lombardo, who heads the Bureau...
Updated January 20, 2021

U.S. Attorneys Protect Victims of Domestic Violence by Enforcing Federal Gun Laws

December 8, 2020
Courtesy of Laura L. Rogers, Principal Deputy Director, Office on Violence Against Women
At the Office on Violence Against Women, we frequently share stories about the work performed by recipients of our grant programs to highlight the partnerships that help keep people safe. I am always in awe of the creativity, dedication and sizable difference these grant programs make in the lives of victims and survivors. As a former prosecutor, today I am excited to discuss a program that works to prevent domestic violence homicides and to discuss the role that U.S. Attorneys play in helping...
Updated January 20, 2021

At the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Firearms is the Enforcement of Federal Gun Laws

December 1, 2020
Courtesy of Laura L. Rogers, Principal Deputy Director, Office on Violence Against Women
With the onset of COVID-19, victim advocates and other service providers encountered new challenges and developed innovative ways to aid victims and survivors of domestic violence in these unprecedented times. With these new approaches, we have expanded the tools in our tool boxes to fight domestic violence, both during and after the pandemic. Yet, with all of this innovation and creativity, we still must remember the basics to stop the violence and keep victims safe. Research establishes the...
Updated January 20, 2021

Engaging Men to End Domestic Violence

November 18, 2020
Courtesy of Laura L. Rogers, Principal Deputy Director, Office on Violence Against Women
One of our priorities here at OVW is engaging men in the effort to stop domestic and sexual violence. While it is often men who commit acts of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, males can also be victims of these crimes so engaging men is not a stereotypical activity at OVW. We seek to engage men as part of the solution not just in terms of educating them about their personal actions in intimate relationships, but also in their roles as fathers, friends and...
Updated January 20, 2021

DOJ Leadership and Employees Wear Purple to Raise Awareness of Domestic Violence

October 22, 2020
Courtesy of Laura L. Rogers, Principal Deputy Director, Office on Violence Against Women
We are sporting purple at the Office on Violence Against Women and across the Department of Justice to raise awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Attorney General Barr, Deputy Attorney General Rosen, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Murray, Department of Justice leaders and staff across the nation, U.S. Attorneys, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) have joined together for Purple Thursday to raise awareness about relationship violence and to band...
Updated January 20, 2021

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Offer a Resource to Somebody in Need of Help

October 1, 2020
Courtesy of Laura L. Rogers, Principal Deputy Director, Office on Violence Against Women
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence causes lifelong harm to countless Americans every day across our great nation. We pause, particularly during this month, to recognize the devastation that domestic violence causes, and to acknowledge and thank the frontline service providers, advocates, and law enforcement officers who face incredible risks when responding to domestic violence calls. People often ask us here at the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) what they...
Updated January 20, 2021

Smithsonian’s David Hunt Honored for Help Finding Missing Children

September 8, 2020
Courtesy of Laura L. Rogers, Principal Deputy Director, Office on Violence Against Women
One of the highlights of my job is meeting people who make a difference in the lives of others by applying their talent and expertise in the pursuit of justice. Some unsung heroes work in police cars, some in courtrooms, others in hospitals or shelters. I met David Hunt amid thousands of human bones inside the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History where he works as a physical and forensic anthropologist and archaeologist -- his day job. As an expert in mortuary analysis and the...
Updated January 20, 2021

Sexual Harassment Policies Now Required for All OVW Grantees

September 2, 2020
Courtesy of Laura L. Rogers, Principal Deputy Director, Office on Violence Against Women
Few things we do as employers and organizations are as important as making sure our workplaces are healthy and safe, and that our employees feel confident in the policies and processes in place to keep them safe and well. Especially during the pandemic, I have been reminded that one of my most important roles is making sure that everyone here at the Office on Violence Against Women has their needs holistically met by our workplace. You might have noticed a new special condition that will be a...
Updated January 20, 2021

OVW Grant Funding Flows to Recipients who Articulate Plans to Meet Specific Needs

September 1, 2020
Courtesy of Laura L. Rogers, Principal Deputy Director, Office on Violence Against Women
Over the years, the Office on Violence Against Women has provided more than $9 billion to communities across the nation. Much of this funding has gone to nonprofits that are on the front lines serving victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. In this week’s episode of our podcast Patchwork , we demystify the process of making an award by providing some tips on what makes an effective response to one of our grant solicitations. Perhaps not too surprisingly,...
Updated January 20, 2021

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