U.S. Attorney's Office Announces $600,000 In Federal Funding Awarded To Mecklenburg County

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that $600,000 in federal grants has been allocated to Mecklenburg County by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), to expand access to legal services and enhance processes impacting the safety of victims and their families.

“I am pleased to announce that the Western District of North Carolina has been awarded funding from the Office on Violence Against Women,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Federal grants are a vital resource for organizations with programs that support the Justice Department’s mission to improve access to legal services and enhance the safety of victims, survivors, and their families.”

The OVW grant was allocated under the Justice for Families (JFF) Program, authorized in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, to improve the response of the civil and criminal justice system to families with a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse. The grant was awarded by the JFF Program to Mecklenburg County Community Support Services, to fund a project related to supervised visitation and safe custody exchange services, provide legal representation and legal assistance services for victims of domestic violence, and expand legal services, including language access, to underserved communities and communities with limited English proficiency.

“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.”

Created in 1995, OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation. OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending 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.