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Press Release
ATLANTA - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is proud to announce that the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded $2,450,000 to provide legal services and improve the effective coordination of justice systems impacting survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
“Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act in 1994 to catalyze federal efforts to combat crimes against women associated with domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other offenses. I am pleased to announce that our district has been awarded funding from the Office on Violence Against Women to provide critical resources to improve the coordination of these investigations,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our office is proud to partner with each of the recipients of these grants and dedicated to collaborating even more closely with these organizations, and others, to combat the scourge of domestic violence to make our communities safer.”
“The Legal Assistance for Victims Grant, in conjunction with the Justice for Families Program and the Domestic Violence Mentor Court Technical Assistance Initiative, serve as a powerful multi-pronged strategy to transform the justice system’s approach to supporting families affected by violence,” stated OVW Director Rosemarie Hidalgo. “These grants enhance court-related programs, trauma-informed training, and resources, while also providing victims with specialized legal support. This includes assistance with securing protective orders and navigating complex family law matters. Collectively, these grants advance a more comprehensive approach, aimed at ensuring that survivors and their families don't merely navigate our legal system, but genuinely find a path to justice and safety.”
The need for specialized legal services is both urgent and essential for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. These services provide interventions, such as securing restraining or protective orders, that are crucial for survivor safety.
• OVW awarded $1,350,000 under the Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Program to the Northern District of Georgia. The LAV Program addresses the legal needs of survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
• OVW awarded $400,000 under the Expanding Legal Services Initiative (ELSI) to the Northern District of Georgia. ELSI, which operates under the LAV Program, supports developing new legal services programs.
• OVW awarded $700,000 under the Justice for Families (JFF) Program to the Northern District of Georgia. The JFF Program aims to improve the capacity of communities and courts to respond to families impacted by violence.
OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through implementing VAWA and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities nationwide that are developing programs, policies, and practices to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office conducts training for local law enforcement officers on federal domestic violence topics, including through the Georgia Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (FBI GA LEEDS). Our office has implemented two case referral programs with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office and at the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office. Through these strategic enforcement initiatives, we expect to identify and prosecute the most serious perpetrators of domestic violence – including offenders who use and possess firearms, which greatly increases the risk of serious injury or death to the victim.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.