U.S. Justice Department Introduces Two New Grants Aimed at Ending Violence Against Women in Rural Tribal Communities

May 28, 2014 is the deadline for submitting proposals for two new grants being offered by the U.S. Justice Department through its Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). The grants include the Violence Against Women Bakken Region Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Initiative and the Violence Against Women Bakken Region Enhanced Response to Victims Initiative.

About the Bakken region

The Bakken Region is located in western North Dakota and eastern Montana. The rural communities are home to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana and three tribes of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The area has been booming due to oil and gas production there in recent years. Along with it has also come an increase in sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking against women.

Grant qualifications

The grants are intended to help provide more protection for women from violence in Indian country. The SAUSA grant will support legal services including salary, travel and training costs to represent victims and prosecute crimes of violence against women. The Enhanced Response grant is available for both state and local organizations who provide services that prevent violence and support victims of violence.

The new grant program has budgeted $3 million over the next three years to support programs that will provide help for the increasing amount of violence against women in the regions of western North Dakota and eastern Montana.

For more information, visit www.ovw.usdoj.gov/ovwgrantprograms.htm