OVW Fiscal Year 2025 Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response Program (ICJR Program)

OVW Fiscal Year 2025 Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response Program (ICJR Program) is sponsored by Office on Violence Against Women. Assists state, local, and tribal governments, and courts to improve the criminal justice response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking as serious violations of criminal law, and to seek safety and autonomy for victims.

OMB No. 1122-0020 | Approval Expires 05/31/2025 # U.S. Department of Justice # Office on Violence Against Women # (Revised sections include Priorities and Program-Specific Unallowable Costs .) # OVW Fiscal Year 2025 Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response Program # Grants. gov Funding Opportunity Number # Assistance Listing Number > Deadline to submit Standard Form/SF-424 in Grants.

gov: June 16, 2025, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time > Deadline to submit application in JustGrants: June 18, 2025, by 8:59 PM Eastern Time 2 # Basic Information ................................................................ ........ 4 Executive Summary ................................................................................................

..... 4 Key Dates ................................................................................................ ....................

5 Resources for Applying ................................................................................................ 6 # Eligibility ................................................................ ......................

6 Eligible Applicants ................................................................................................ ........ 6 Other Program Eligibility Requirements ................................................................

....... 8 Types of Applications ................................................................................................ ...

9 Ineligible Entities and Disqualifying Factors ................................................................ . 9 # Program Description .................................................................

10 Purpose Areas ........................................................................................................... 10 Statutory Considerations............................................................................................ 13 Priorities .....................................................................................................................

16 Program Requirements .............................................................................................. 16 Program-Specific Unallowable Costs ......................................................................... 16 Limited Use of Funds .................................................................................................

19 Activities Requiring Prior Approval ................................................................ ............. 19 Type of Award ................................................................................................

............ 19 # Application Contents and Format ................................ ............

19 Letter of Intent [optional] ............................................................................................ 19 Application Contents .................................................................................................. 19 Formatting and Technical Requirements ...................................................................

20 Proposal Abstract ................................................................................................ ...... 20 Data Requested with Application ...............................................................................

21 Proposal Narrative ..................................................................................................... 21 Budget and Associated Documentation ................................................................ .....

22 Memorandum of Understanding and Supporting Documents .................................... 27 Additional Application Components ........................................................................... 29 3 Additional Certifications ................................................................

............................. 34 Disclosures and Assurances...................................................................................... 36 # Submission Requirements and Deadlines..............................

37 Prior to Application Submission ................................................................................. 37 How to Apply ................................................................................................ ..............

38 Submission Dates and Times .................................................................................... 39 Application Submission Checklist ................................................................ ..............

39 # Application Review Information ................................ ............... 43 Responsiveness Review ............................................................................................

43 Review Criteria .......................................................................................................... 43 Review and Selection Process .................................................................................. 43 Risk Review ................................................................................................

............... 45 # Award Notices ........................................................................... 46 # Post-Award Requirements and Administration......................

46 Administrative, National Policy, and Other Legal Requirements ................................ 46 Post-Award Reporting Requirements ................................................................ ........

47 # Other Information ...................................................................... 47 Public Reporting Burden - Paperwork Reduction Act Notice ................................ .....

47 Appendix A: Pre-Award Risk Assessment ................................................................. 48 Appendix B: Summary Data Sheet ................................................................ ............

50 4 The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is accepting applications for funding in response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Created in 1995, OVW administers grant programs authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation and provides national leadership on issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

OVW grants support coordinated community responses that provide services to victims and hold offenders accountable. The Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response Program (ICJR Program) assists state, local, and Tribal governments, and courts to improve the criminal justice response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking as serious violations of criminal law, and to seek safety and autonomy for victims.

## Funding Opportunity Details Federal Agency Name U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Funding Opportunity Title OVW FY 2025 Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Announcement Type Initial Grants. gov Funding Opportunity Assistance Listing Number 16. 590 Statutory Authority 34 U.S.C.

§§ 10461 – 10465 - 28 C. F. R.

Part 90, Subpart D Anticipated Number of Awards 35 Expected Award Amount(s) $500,000 to $1,000,000 Expected Award Period(s) 36 months 5 This table contains deadlines and other important dates. Funding Opportunity Release Date On or about May 8, 202 5, NOFO is expected to Pre-Application Information Session(s) Expected to be available on OVW Website on Sam. gov Registration/Renewal Recommend completing process by May 24 , Grants.

gov Registration/Renewal Recommend completing process by June 16, Letter of Intent (Optional) May 23, 2025, at OVW. ICJR@usdoj. gov Grants.

gov Deadline June 16, 2025, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) JustGrants Deadline June 18, 2025, by 8:59 PM ET Decision Notification Date OVW anticipates notifying applicants of funding decisions by October 1, 2025 For assistance with the application process or questions about this funding opportunity, contact the resources listed below. OVW Contact Phone: 202 -307 -6026 Email: OVW. ICJR@usdoj.

gov For assistance with SAM. gov Website: https://sam. gov/content/help Hours of Operation: 8:00 a.

m. to 8:00 p. m.

ET Monday-Friday For assistance with Grants. gov Email: support@grants. gov Website: https://www.

grants. gov/support Hours of operation: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (closed federal holidays) For assistance with JustGrants Phone : 866 -655 -4482 Email: OVW. JustGrantsSupport@usdoj.

gov 6 ## Resources for Applying Pre-application Information Session OVW will post a recorded pre-application information session on the OVW website . Viewing is optional. In this session, OVW staff will summarize the program’s requirements, review the funding opportunity, and answer frequently asked questions.

The session will be captioned in English and Spanish. • Application Companion Guide • Resources for Applicants • Budget Information on OVW Website • JustGrants Application Submission Training Entities that are eligible to apply are: • State governments, including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands (34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(37)).

Units of Local Government • Any city, county, township, town, borough, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a State (or territory) (34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(47)).

• The following are not considered units of local government: (1) Police departments; (2) Pre-trial service agencies; (3) District or city attorneys' offices; (4) Sheriffs' departments; (5) Probation and parole departments; (6) Shelters; (7) Nonprofit, nongovernmental victim service agencies including faith-based or community-based organizations; and (8) Universities. (28 C. F.

R. §§ 90. 2(g), 90.

61(b)). These entities may assume responsibility for the development and implementation of the project but may not apply as a unit of local government. Victim service providers and state or Tribal domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions are eligible for the program as a separate category.

The other entities listed above must have a state, local government, or Tribal government apply as the lead applicant. Indian Tribal Governments • The governing body of an Indian Tribe, or 7 • A Tribe, band, pueblo, nation, or other organized group or community of Indians, including any Alaska Native Village or regional or village corporation (as defined in, or established pursuant to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.

§§ 1601 et seq.)) , that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians (34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(43)).

• Any civil or criminal, Tribal, and Alaska Native Village, federal, state, local, or territorial court having jurisdiction to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including immigration, family, juvenile, and dependency courts, and the judicial officers serving in those courts, including judges, magistrate judges, commissioners, justices of the peace, or any other person with decision making authority (34 U.S.C.

§ 12291(a)(7)). State, Tribal, or Territorial Domestic Violence or Sexual Assault Coalitions • A state or territorial domestic violence coalition is a program determined by the Administration for Children and Families, under 42 U.S.C. §§ 10402, 10411 (See 34 U.S.C.

§ 12291(a)(38)). • A state or territorial sexual assault coalition is a program determined by the Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 280b et seq.)

(See 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(39)). • A tribal coalition meets the criteria at 34 U.S.C.

§ 12291(a)(42) and has been recognized by OVW.

• A nonprofit, nongovernmental or Tribal organization or rape crisis center, including a state or territorial coalition, that assists or advocates for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking victims, including domestic violence shelters, faith-based organizations, and other organizations, with a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking (34 U.S.C.

§ 12291(a)(50)). Victim service providers must provide direct services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking as one of their primary purposes and have a demonstrated history of effective work in this field.

Faith-Based Organizations Faith-Based organizations that meet the eligibility requirements for this program are eligible to apply (more information for faith-based organizations is available in the Application Companion Guide and Any entity that is eligible for this program based on its status as a nonprofit organization must be an organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code.

See 34 U.S.C. § 12291(b)(15)(B)(i). 8 ## Other Program Eligibility Requirements In addition to being an eligible entity, applicants also must meet the requirements below.

All certification and other eligibility related documents must be and developed in accordance with this NOFO. Certifications must take the form of a letter, on letterhead, signed, and dated by the authorized representative. Each one must be uploaded as a separate attachment under the Additional Application Components section in JustGrants.

Failure to provide required certifications may disqualify an application. At a minimum, an applicant that fails to include the required certification letter(s) with its application must submit that certification letter prior to receiving an award. Certifications of Eligibility Pursuant to 34 U.S.C.

§ 10461(c), all applicants must provide Certifications of Eligibility (COEs) about the laws, policies, and/or practices of its jurisdiction in order to qualify for an ICJR award. More information can be found in the Additional Application Components section of this NOFO. Delivery of Legal Assistance Certification Pursuant to 34 U.S.C.

§ 12291(b)(12), to be eligible for an award, any recipient or subrecipient providing legal assistance with funds awarded under this program must submit a Delivery of Legal Assistance Certification letter as described under Additional Application Components in this NOFO. A sample Delivery of Legal Assistance Certification letter can be found on the OVW website.

All applications submitted for ICJR funding must include formal partnerships as described below based on lead applicant type. Applicants that fail to include a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), or Letter(s) of Commitment (LOC) will be removed from further consideration.

All formal partnerships must be documented in the form of a MOU or LOC for court applicants, Tribal Governments, and Tribal victim service providers only, at the time of application. A sample MOU can be found on the OVW Website.

State, Indian Tribal Government, Unit of Local Government and Court Applicants: Applicants that are states, units of local governments, Tribal governments, or courts are required to enter into a formal partnership with: 1) one or more victim service provider(s) that have a documented history of serving victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking, and 2) other governmental entities that are necessary for the implementation of the proposed project.

A victim service provider must be involved in the development and implementation of the project. See Eligibility Information for the definition of "victim service provider.

” 9 State, Tribal, or Territorial Domestic Violence or Sexual Assault Coalition or Victim Service Provider Applicants: Lead applicants that are victim service providers, including coalitions, are required to enter into a formal partnership with: 1) a state, Indian Tribal government, or unit of local government appropriate to the service area, and 2) any specific governmental entities that are necessary for the implementation of the proposed project.

All partners must be involved in the development and implementation of the project. (See Eligibility Information for more information on Coalition and Victim Service Provider eligibility). See Supporting Documents for additional information on the MOU and/or LOC requirements.

In FY 2025, OVW will accept applications for the ICJR program from the following applicants: Applicants that have never received funding under the ICJR program or applicants that received previous ICJR funding that expired on or before February 27, 2025. Applicants that have an existing or recently closed (after February 27, 2025) award under this program. Continuation funding is not guaranteed.

Note: Current recipients with a substantial amount of unobligated funds remaining (50 percent or more of the current award) as of March 31, 2025, without adequate justification, may not be considered for funding or may receive a reduced award amount if selected for funding under this NOFO.

## Ineligible Entities and Disqualifying Factors Applications submitted by ineligible entities or that do not meet all other program eligibility requirements will not be considered for funding . In addition, an application deemed deficient in one or more of the following areas may not be considered for funding: 1. Program-specific unallowable costs 3.

Completeness of application contents An application will be removed from consideration if the applicant does not comply fully with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM. gov requirements (see Submission Requirements and Deadlines section for more information on these requirements). 10 An applicant with past performance issues, long-standing open audits, or an open criminal investigation also may not be considered for funding.

Note: Any nonprofit organization that holds money in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax described in section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code is not eligible for a grant from this program. See 34 U.S.C. § 12291(b)(15)(B)(ii).

Limit on Number of Applications OVW will consider only one application for this program per organization for the same service area (i.e., the geographic area to be served). If an applicant submits multiple versions of the same application, OVW will review only the most recent system-validated version submitted before the deadline. This program has no matching or cost-sharing requirement.

This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. §§ 10461 – 10465 and implemented through regulations at 28 C. F.

R. Part 90, Subpart D. For a brief description of this program, see the Executive Summary .

For more information about OVW programs, including how recipients of OVW grant funding achieve program goals, see: OVW grant program information: OVW Grants and Programs webpage . Data that recipients collect and report: VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative webpage.

What recipients have achieved and some of the evidence-based approaches they may have used: OVW’s most recent report to Congress on the effectiveness of VAWA grant programs. Funds under this program must be used for one or more of the following purposes: 1.

To implement offender accountability and homicide reduction programs and policies in police departments, including policies for protection order violations and enforcement of protection orders across State and Tribal lines. 2.

To develop policies, educational programs, protection order registries, data collection systems, and training in police departments to improve tracking of cases and classification of complaints involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Policies, educational programs, protection order registries, and training described in this paragraph shall incorporate confidentiality, and privacy protections for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. 11 3.

To centralize and coordinate police enforcement, prosecution, or judicial responsibility for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking cases in teams or units of police officers, prosecutors, parole and probation officers, or judges. 4.

To coordinate computer tracking systems and provide the appropriate training and education about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking to ensure communication between police, prosecutors, parole and probation officers, and both criminal and family courts. 5.

To strengthen legal advocacy and legal assistance programs and other victim services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including strengthening assistance to such victims in immigration matters. (Note: Applicants seeking to fulfill this purpose area must limit direct legal services to no more than 30% of project activities.) 6.

To educate Federal, State, Tribal, territorial, and local judges, courts, and court-based and court-related personnel in criminal and civil courts (including juvenile courts) about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and to improve judicial handling of such cases. 7.

To provide technical assistance and computer and other equipment to police departments, prosecutors, courts, and Tribal jurisdictions to facilitate the widespread enforcement of protection orders, including interstate enforcement, enforcement between States and Tribal jurisdictions, and enforcement between Tribal jurisdictions. 8.

To develop or strengthen policies and training for police, prosecutors, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of domestic violence dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking against individuals 50 years of age or over, Deaf individuals, and individuals with disabilities (as defined in section 12102(2) of Title 42). 9.

To develop State, Tribal, territorial, or local policies, procedures, and protocols for preventing dual arrests and prosecutions in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and to develop effective methods for identifying the pattern and history of abuse that indicates which party is the actual perpetrator of abuse. 10.

To plan, develop and establish comprehensive victim service and support centers, such as family justice centers, designed to bring together victim advocates from victim service providers, staff from population specific organizations, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, probation officers, governmental victim assistants, forensic medical professionals, civil legal attorneys, chaplains, legal advocates, representatives from community-based organizations and other relevant public or private agencies or organizations into one centralized location, in order to improve safety, access to services, and confidentiality for victims and families.

Although funds may be used to support the colocation of project partners under this paragraph, funds may not support construction or major renovation expenses or activities that fall outside of the scope of the other statutory purpose areas. 11.

To develop and implement policies and training for police, prosecutors, probation and parole officers, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of sexual assault, with an emphasis on recognizing the threat to the community for repeat crime perpetration by such individuals. 12 12. To develop, enhance, and maintain protection order registries.

13. To develop human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing programs for sexual assault perpetrators and notification and counseling protocols. 14.

To develop and implement training programs for prosecutors and other prosecution-related personnel regarding best practices to ensure offender accountability, victim safety, and victim consultation in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. 15.

To develop or strengthen policies, protocols, and training for law enforcement, prosecutors, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking against immigrant victims, including the appropriate use of applications for nonimmigrant status under subparagraphs (T) and (U) of section 1101(a)(15) of Title 8. 16.

To develop and promote State, local, or Tribal legislation and policies that enhance best practices for responding to the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including the appropriate treatment of victims. 17. To develop, implement, or enhance sexual assault nurse examiner programs or sexual assault forensic examiner programs, including the hiring and training of such examiners.

18. To develop, implement, or enhance Sexual Assault Response Teams or similar coordinated community responses to sexual assault. 19.

To develop and strengthen policies, protocols, and training for law enforcement officers and prosecutors regarding the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases and the appropriate treatment of victims, including victims among underserved populations (as defined in section 12291(a) of this title). 20. To provide human immunodeficiency virus testing programs, counseling, and prophylaxis for victims of sexual assault.

21. To identify and inventory backlogs of sexual assault evidence collection kits and to develop protocols for responding to and addressing such backlogs, including policies and protocols for notifying and involving victims. 22.

To develop multidisciplinary high-risk teams focusing on reducing domestic violence and dating violence homicides by— (a) using evidence-based indicators to assess the risk of homicide and link high-risk victims to immediate crisis intervention services; (b) identifying and managing high-risk offenders; and (c) providing ongoing victim advocacy and referrals to comprehensive services including legal, housing, health care, and economic assistance.

23. To develop, strengthen, and implement policies, protocols, and training for law enforcement regarding cases of missing or murdered Indians, as described in 25 U.S.C. § 5704.

(Note: Proposals under this purpose area must have the primary purpose of improving the criminal justice response to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking as serious violations of criminal law, and seeking safety and autonomy of victims, as required by 34 U.S.C. § 10461(a).) 24.

To compile and annually report data to the Attorney General related to missing or murdered Indians, as described in 25 U.S.C, § 5705. ( Note: Proposals under this purpose area must 13 have the primary purpose of improving the criminal justice response to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking as serious violations of criminal law, and seeking safety and autonomy of victims, as required by 34 U.S.C. § 10461(a).)

25. To develop Statewide databases with information on where sexual assault nurse examiners are located. 26.

To develop and implement alternative methods of reducing crime in communities, to supplant punitive programs or policies.

For purposes of this paragraph, a punitive program or policy is a program or policy that— (a) imposes a penalty on a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, on the basis of a request by the victim for law enforcement or emergency assistance; or (b) imposes a penalty on such a victim because of criminal activity at the property in which the victim resides.

• Because the majority of the statutory purpose areas listed above include functions and/or activities that are inherently governmental, state/Tribal coalitions and victim service providers applying as the lead applicant can only apply to address purpose areas 5, 10, and 17 above.

• Applicants requesting to fund legal assistance components to their project will only be funded if they have an existing legal services infrastructure or if they partner with an organization that has an existing legal services infrastructure. Applicants may not request to stand up a new legal assistance component.

## Statutory Considerations Sexual Assault Statutory Set Aside When awarding funds, OVW must ensure that, “not less than 25 percent [of appropriated funds] shall be available for projects that address sexual assault, including stranger rape, acquaintance rape, alcohol or drug facilitated rape, and rape within the context of an intimate partner relationship. ” 34 U.S.C. § 10461(g).

• Therefore, applicants proposing to implement 45 percent or more of their project activities to support sexual assault responses may apply for up to $200,000 in additional funding . • Projects that are funded through a FY 2025 award may, at the end of the 36-month project period, be invited to apply for noncompetitive funding.

These projects could receive up to 24 months of additional funding provided that there is documented compliance with the financial and programmatic requirements of the award, including whether the grantee has spent down the grant funds during the initial 36-month period.

Grantees invited to apply for noncompetitive funding to continue their projects past the initial period would be required to submit a new budget and narrative for the remaining 24 months of the project. If invited to apply for this 14 additional funding, the project would be subject to the budgetary cap of that future year’s NOFO, not any higher cap for addressing sexual assault.

Applicants applying for this additional funding must allocate at least 45 percent of grant-funded activities to addressing sexual assault (including non-intimate partner sexual assault) and must address one or more of the following purpose areas, found at 34 U.S.C.

§ 10461(b)(11), (13), (17)-(21), (25): • (11) To develop and implement policies and training for police, prosecutors, probation and parole officers, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and prosecuting instances of sexual assault. • (13) To develop human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing programs for sexual assault perpetrators.

• (17) To develop, implement, or enhance sexual assault nurse examiner programs or sexual assault forensic examiner programs, including the hiring and training of such examiners. • (18) To develop, implement, or enhance Sexual Assault Response Teams or similar coordinated community responses to sexual assault.

• (19) To develop and strengthen policies, protocols, and training for law enforcement officers and prosecutors regarding the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases and the appropriate treatment of victims.

• (20) To provide human immunodeficiency virus testing programs, counseling, and prophylaxis for victims of sexual assault • (21) To identify and inventory backlogs of sexual assault evidence collection kits and to develop protocols for responding to and addressing such backlogs. • (25) To develop Statewide databases with information on where sexual assault nurse examiners are located.

Examples of key activities that meaningfully address the aforementioned ICJR sexual assault-focused purpose areas (11, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 25) include, but are not limited to: • Hiring and training of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners and Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners; • Creating a database with information to assist in locating Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners; • Training investigators and prosecutors to appropriately interview adults and youth over age 11 who are victims of sexual assault, and understand how the neurobiology of trauma affects a victim’s ability to recount events; • Developing, reviewing and/or revising non-intimate partner sexual assault programming, policies, and procedures; 15 • Law enforcement and prosecutorial capacity building and training for non-intimate partner sexual assault, including sexual assaults that may accompany or be facilitated by online abuse, harassment and/or sexual exploitation; • Victim advocacy service capacity building and/or service enhancement for non-intimate partner sexual assault (medical, law enforcement, and court accompaniment/advocacy; 24-hour hotline services; crisis intervention; short-term individual and group support services; and comprehensive service coordination); and • Meaningful inclusion of community-based, culturally specific services and support for survivors of sexual assault, to include outreach activities for underserved communities.

Note: Applicants are not required to address the sexual assault statutory set aside; however, all applicants must identify on their Summary Data Sheet the percentage of the proposed project that addresses sexual assault. ICJR Grant Program Statutory Priority Areas Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 10462(b), OVW must prioritize applicants that: 1.

Do not currently provide for centralized handling of cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking by police, prosecutors, and courts; 2.

Demonstrate a commitment to strong enforcement of laws, and prosecution of cases, involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including the enforcement of protection orders from other states and jurisdictions (including Tribal jurisdictions); 3.

Have established cooperative agreements or can demonstrate effective ongoing collaborative arrangements with neighboring jurisdictions to facilitate the enforcement of protection orders from other States and jurisdictions (including Tribal jurisdictions); and 4.

In applications describing plans to further the purposes stated in purpose areas 4 or 7 above, will use the grant to develop and install data collection and communication systems, including computerized systems, and training on how to use these systems effectively to link police, prosecutors, courts, and Tribal jurisdictions for the purpose of identifying and tracking protection orders and violations of protection orders, in those jurisdictions where such systems do not exist or are not fully effective.

Applicants proposing to address one or more of these statutory priority areas must discuss how they meet one or more of these priority areas in their Proposal Narrative (and identify the statutory priority area(s) addressed within the “Summary Data Sheet” section. An applicant that addresses one or more of the statutory priority area(s) will be given special consideration during the application review process.

16 Applications that fare well in merit review and substantively address one or more of the priorities listed below, to the extent consistent with the program’s authorizing statute, may receive priority consideration for funding: 1.

Measures to combat human trafficking and transnational crime, particularly crimes linked to illegal immigration and cartel operations, that support safety and justice for trafficking victims who have also suffered domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and/or stalking; 2.

Projects to provide victim services, especially housing, and improve law enforcement response in rural and remote areas, Tribal nations, and small towns that often lack resources to effectively combat domestic violence and sexual assault; and 3. Proposals submitted by states or units of local government that certify they comply with federal immigration law, including 8 U.S.C. § 1373.

Applicants that receive funding under this program will be required to engage in the following activities: 1. Participate in OVW-sponsored training and technical assistance (TTA). 2.

Collect and report performance indicators. Forms, instructions, training, and related tools for each OVW program are available on the VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative webpage . 3.

Participate in an assessment or evaluation, if OVW conducts one that requires recipient involvement. 4. Attend an ICJR new grantee orientation.

5. Participate in OVW training and technical assistance to improve service delivery, increase understanding, and build capacity to support survivors. 6.

If applicable, participate in training and technical assistance to satisfy the Prosecution Certification required by VAWA 2022. ## Program-Specific Unallowable Costs Applications proposing activities described below may have points deducted during the review process or may be removed from consideration.

Activities that Compromise Victim Safety and Recovery or Undermine Offender Accountability OVW does not fund activities that jeopardize victim safety, deter or prevent physical or emotional healing for victims, or allow offenders to avoid responsibility for their actions. See the Application Companion Guide for more details about these activities, including program-specific information.

17 The activities listed below are out of the program scope and will not be funded. 1. Research projects.

Funds under this program may not be used to conduct research, defined by 28 C. F. R.

§ 46. 102(d) as a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge. However, assessments conducted for internal improvement purposes only may be allowable.

For information on distinguishing between research and assessments, see the Application Companion Guide . 2. Promoting or facilitating the violation of federal immigration law.

3. Inculcating or promoting gender ideology as defined in Executive Order 14168, Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government . 4.

Promoting or facilitating discriminatory programs or ideology, including illegal DEI and “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility” programs that do not advance the policy of equal dignity and respect, as described in Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity .

This prohibition is not intended to interfere with any of OVW’s statutory obligations, such as funding for HBCUs, culturally specific services, and disability programs. 5. Activities that frame domestic violence or sexual assault as systemic social justice issues rather than criminal offenses