Montana Groups Receive Federal Grant To Fight Domestic And Sexual Violence In The Bakken

Fort Peck Reservation Gets Money for Special Assistant U.S. Attorney

HELENA - On August 26, 2014, Associate Attorney General Tony West announced $3 million dollars in grants from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to increase local and tribal capacity to prosecute crimes of violence against women and provide services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking in the Bakken Region of North Dakota and Montana. Of the five groups awarded grants, two are from Montana: Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes and the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. The Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation will also receive a three-year $450,000 grant to support the salary, travel, and training costs of a tribal prosecutor, who will be cross-designated to serve as a tribal Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) in the District of Montana U.S. Attorney's Office.

This news comes at a meaningful time in Montana," said U.S. Attorney Michael Cotter. "Communities in and around the Bakken are witnessing its impact, and this grant provides critical resources, including mental health counseling, legal assistance, and other resources to prevent violence against women and help victims recover."

OVW's Bakken Region special initiative launched in April 2014 and is the first large scale project targeting resources to support the expansion of services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking as well as aid the local criminal justice system in responding to these crimes in the Bakken region.

With Justice Department funding, these grantees will be able to enhance responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and expand mental health assistance, advocacy, legal assistance, prevention education, sexual assault forensic examiner programs, Sexual Assault Response Teams, and law enforcement training. The grants are part of the Justice Department's ongoing commitment to protecting women from violence and strengthening the capacity of communities to respond to domestic and sexual violence.