FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE??????? ??????????????????????? ??????????????????????? ??????????? ??????????? VAWO
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2001??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? 202/307-0703
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AWARDS DALLAS AREA
ORGANIZATIONS? $483,431
TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS ADDRESSING VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
WASHINGTON, DC ? The Justice Department
announced today that it is awarding two Dallas, Texas area organizations grants
totaling $483,431 to provide comprehensive services to victims of domestic
violence and sexual assault.? These funds
will support projects that provide comprehensive legal services, victim
advocacy, and improved responses of the criminal justice system which enhance
victim safety and strengthen economic autonomy.? Of the total funding,
$284,170 is awarded to the East Dallas Counseling Center Inc. to strengthen
legal services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and
stalking.? Funding to the East Dallas
Counseling Center Inc. is under OJP?s Legal Assistance for Victims Grant
Program administered by the Department?s Violence Against Women Office
(VAWO).? Also awarded is $199,261 to
Dallas County to institute policies and programs that encourage arrest of the
perpetrators of domestic violence.
Funding for this award is part of VAWO?s Grants to Encourage Arrest
Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program.?
?This funding promotes partnerships among all
components of the legal and criminal justice systems to assist victims of
domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.? The resources made available through the grant funds directly
meet the needs of victims and hold offenders accountable,? said Mary Lou Leary,
Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Department?s Office of Justice
Programs.
? ????????? The East Dallas Counseling Center, Inc. and its project
partner, the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, Inc., serve the civil
legal needs of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, especially
those from diverse and traditionally underserved populations. Underserved
populations include refugees, immigrants, and migrant clients, in addition to
the traditionally underserved populations of racial, cultural, ethnic, and
language minorities.
The Dallas County Grants to Encourage Arrest
Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program funding focuses on:
???????????? Implementing mandatory
arrest or? pro-arrest policies and
programs in police departments;
???????????? Centralizing domestic
violence cases;
???????????? Strengthening legal advocacy
service programs for victims of domestic violence;
???????????? Enforcing protective
orders and implementing the full faith and credit provision of the Violence
Against Women Act;
???????????? Instituting
community-driven initiatives to address violence against women among diverse,
traditionally underserved populations; and
???????????? Supporting community
policing to reduce and prevent violence against women.
?Both
grant programs are funded under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).? For information about the East Dallas
Counseling Center, Inc., contact Walter H. Nguyen? at 214/821-5393.? For
information about the Dallas County grant, contact Lee Jackson at 214/653-7555.? Information about these and other
initiatives involving violence against women is available on VAWO?s Website at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo or OJP?s Website at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/, or by calling the National
Criminal Justice Reference Service toll-free at 1-800/851-3420.??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ???????????
VAWO1188
After hours contact:
Angela Harless on 202/616-3266 or pager #888/763-8943