Order Code RL30871
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Violence Against Women Act:
History, Federal Funding, and
Reauthorizing Legislation
Updated July 15, 2004
Garrine P. Laney
Analyst in Social Legislation
Domestic Social Policy Division
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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Violence Against Women Act: History, Federal
Funding, and Reauthorizing Legislation
Summary
On October 28, 2000, President Clinton signed into law the Violence Against
Women Act (VAWA) of 2000 as Division B of the Victims of Trafficking and
Violence Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386 (H.R. 3244)). VAWA 2000
reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act through FY2005, set new funding
levels, and added new programs. The original Violence Against Women Act,
enacted as Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act (P.L.
103-322 (H.R. 3355)), became law in 1994.
In passing the FY2005 CJS Appropriations bill (H.R. 4754) on July 8, 2004,
the House approved funding of $383.55 million for the Department of Justice’s
(DOJ) violence against women programs. The Bush Administration requested a total
of $514.11 million for VAWA programs for FY2005 compared to total FY2004
appropriations of $519.98 million. Of the requested amount for FY2005, $385.46
million is for programs administered by DOJ and $128.65 million is for those
administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
VAWA established within DOJ and HHS a number of discretionary grant
programs for state, local, and Indian tribal governments. DOJ administers VAWA
grants designed to aid law enforcement officers and prosecutors, encourage arrest
policies, stem domestic violence and child abuse, establish and operate training
programs for victim advocates and counselors, and train probation and parole officers
who work with released sex offenders. Under HHS, grants include funds for battered
women’s shelters, rape prevention and education, reduction of sexual abuse of
runaway and homeless street youth, and community programs on domestic violence.
Several studies of violent crimes against women were also mandated. In addition to
grants administered by the states, the act included a number of changes in federal
criminal law relating to interstate stalking, intrastate domestic abuse, federal sex
offense cases, the rules of evidence regarding use of a victim’s past sexual behavior,
and HIV testing in rape cases.
VAWA 2000 reauthorized most of the original act’s programs and created new
grant programs to prevent sexual assaults on campuses, assist victims of violence
with civil legal concerns, create transitional housing for victims of domestic abuse
(administered by HHS), and enhance protections for elderly and disabled victims of
domestic violence. VAWA 2000, also, created a pilot program for safe custody
exchange for families of domestic violence.
Most recently, Congress enacted the Keeping Children and Families Safe
Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-36), which, among other provisions, reauthorizes HHS’s
transitional housing assistance program for victims of domestic violence for FY2003
through FY2008. It also passed the PROTECT Act (P.L. 108-21), which provides
authorization, for FY2004 through FY2008, for DOJ’s transitional housing assistance
program for victims of domestic violence.

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Contents
Violence Against Women: Background and Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Changes in Federal Criminal Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Civil Rights and Supreme Court Ruling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Grant Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Reauthorizing Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Funding Under the Violence Against Women Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Debate Over Gender Inclusiveness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Transitional Housing Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Appendix A: Description of Grant Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Law Enforcement and Prosecution (Special Training Officers
and Prosecutors (STOP)) Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
State Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition Grants . . . . . . . . . . 17
Rape Prevention and Education Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
National Domestic Violence Hotline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Grants to Encourage Arrests Policies in Domestic Violence Cases . . . . . . 17
Grants for Battered Women’s Shelters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Community Programs on Domestic Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement Grants . . . . . . . . 19
Victims of Child Abuse Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Federal Victims Counselors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Grants to Reduce Sexual Abuse of Runaway, Homeless, and Street
Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Equal Justice for Women in the Courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Appendix B: New Initiatives in the Violence Against Women Act 2000 . . . . . 21
Grant Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Grants for Legal Assistance to Victims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Short Term Transitional Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Older and Disabled Individuals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Safe Haven Pilot Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Other Initiatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act of 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Dating Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Task Force on Domestic Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

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List of Tables
Table 1. Funds Appropriated for Violence Against Women Grant
Programs, FY1996-FY2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Table 2. Funding Authorized in the Violence Against Women Act 2000
(P.L. 106-386) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Table 3. Funding Authorized in the Violence Against Women Act 2000
(P.L. 106-386) for FY2005, Appropriations for FY2003 and FY2004,
and Amounts Requested in the President’s FY2005 Budget . . . . . . . . . . . 14

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Violence Against Women Act:
History, Federal Funding, and
Reauthorizing Legislation
Violence Against Women:
Background and Statistics
Legislation proposing a federal response to the problem of violence against
women was first introduced in 1990, although such violence was first identified as
a serious problem in the 1970s. Congressional action to address gender-related
violence culminated in the enactment of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA),
which is Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.1
Funding under the bill emphasized enforcement as well as educational and social
programs to prevent crime. The focus of the funding was on local government
programs, an approach that the sponsors of the bill believed was the most promising
technique for reducing crime and violence. They also cautioned that, due to the
variety of programs funded though the states, the impact of the bill may be difficult
to quantify.2 Funding through FY2000 was authorized through the Violent Crime
Reduction Trust Fund, created under Title XXXI of P.L. 103-322. Legislation to
reauthorize VAWA though FY2005 was signed by the President on October 28, 2000
(P.L. 106-386).
Statistics on crimes of violence against women depict a personal safety problem
that some believe may seriously limit the ability of threatened women to function
fully in American society. Such crimes often have devastating consequences for
these women personally, as well as for their families and for society as a whole.
Since FY1995, VAWA has been a major source of funding for programs to reduce
rape, stalking, and domestic violence. The Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Health
and Human Services (HHS), which administer the grants under VAWA, have
produced a series of reports on the methods of assessing and preventing gender-
related crimes. These reports, required by the statute, are submitted annually to
1 P.L. 103-322; 108 Stat. 1902; 42 U.S.C. 13701.
2 Indeed, there are only two studies that attempt to evaluate the overall effects of a VAWA
grant program: (1) Martha R. Burt, Lisa C. Newmark, Lisa K. Jacobs, and Adele V. Harrell,
1998: Report: Evaluation of the STOP Formula Grants Under the Violence Against Women
Act of 1994 (Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 1998); and (2) Neal Miller, National
Evaluation of the Arrest Policies Program Under VAWA, presented at the Bureau of Justice
Statistics/Justice Research Statistical Association National Conference in Minneapolis,
MN, Nov. 2, 2000. Though both studies provide examples of effective programs funded by
the grants, neither study offers a conclusion as to the overall effectiveness of these grant
programs.

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CRS-2
Congress. The data collected under VAWA are intended to help define the extent of
the problem of violence against women and point towards possible solutions. The
1998 collaborative study on violence jointly funded by DOJ and HHS3 reported that:
! Using a definition of rape that includes forced vaginal, oral, and anal
intercourse, nearly 18% of women in the United States said they had
been raped (14.8%) or the victim of an attempted rape (2.8%) in
their lifetime. Based on these survey figures, 17.7 million women
are projected to have been raped. More than half of the rape victims
said they were under age 17 when first raped. Of the women who
reported being raped at some time in their lives, 22% were under 12
years old and 32% were 12 to 17 years old when they were first
raped.
! Differences in the prevalence of reported rape and physical assault
among women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds are
statistically significant: American Indian/Alaska Native women were
most likely to report these crimes, Asian/Pacific Islander women
were least likely to report them, and Hispanic women were less
likely to make such reports than non-Hispanic women.
! Physical assault, ranging from slapping and hitting to gun violence,
is widespread: 52% of women said they were physically assaulted
as a child by an adult caretaker or as an adult by any type of
perpetrator, and 1.9% of women said they were physically assaulted
in the previous 12 months. Based on the survey figures,
approximately 1.9 million women are projected to be physically
assaulted annually in the United States.
! Women report significantly more partner violence than do men: 25%
of women, compared with 8% of men, said they were raped or
physically assaulted or both in their lifetime by a current or former
spouse, cohabiting partner, or date; 1.5% of women and 0.9% of
men said they were raped or physically assaulted by such a
perpetrator in the previous 12 months. According to survey
estimates, approximately 1.5 million women and 834,700 men are
projected to be raped or physically assaulted by an intimate partner
annually in the United States.4
3 U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, and
Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention,
Prevalence, Incidence, and Consequences of Violence Against Women: Findings from the
National Violence Against Women Survey (Washington: Nov. 1998), p.2. The principal
source for crime data has long been the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program,
a compilation of monthly law enforcement reports and individual crime incident records
voluntarily submitted. Since crimes against women are believed to be under- reported in the
UCR, data for the collaborative DOJ-HHS survey were based on a nationally representative
telephone survey of 8,000 women and 8,000 men. The survey was designed to protect
confidentiality and minimize the potential for re-traumatizing victims. Differences in data
collection methods explain the differences between the collaborative survey and the UCR.
4 For men, the reported number of rape victims was insufficient to perform statistical tests
for significance.

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CRS-3
! Violence against adult women is primarily partner violence: 76% of
the women (compared to 18% of men) who were raped or physically
assaulted or both since age 18 said the perpetrator was a current or
former spouse, a co-habiting partner, or a date.
! Women are significantly more apt to be injured during an assault:
32% of women and 16% of men who reported that they had been
raped since age 18 said they were injured during their most recent
rape. About one in three women who were injured during a physical
assault required medical care.
! Stalking is more prevalent than previously thought. Using a
definition of stalking that involves repeated visual or physical
proximity, non-consensual communication, verbal, written or
implied threats, or a combination of these that would cause a victim
to feel a high level of fear, 8% of women and 2% of men said they
were stalked at some time in their lives. One percent of the women
and 0.4% of the men said they were stalked in the previous 12
months. According to survey estimates, approximately one million
women and 371,000 men are projected to be stalked annually in the
United States.
Changes in Federal Criminal Law
To help combat violence against women, the original VAWA rewrote several
areas of federal criminal law. Penalties were created for interstate stalking or
domestic abuse in cases where an abuser crossed a state line to injure or harass
another, or forced a victim to cross a state line under duress and then physically
harmed the victim in the course of a violent crime. Additionally, the law
strengthened existing penalties for repeat sexual offenders and required restitution
to victims in federal sex offense cases. VAWA called for pretrial detention in federal
sex offense or child pornography felonies and allowed evidence of prior sex offenses
to be used in some subsequent trials regarding federal sex crimes. The law also set
new rules of evidence specifying that a victim’s past sexual behavior generally was
not admissible in federal civil or criminal cases regarding sexual misconduct. Rape
victims were allowed to demand that their alleged assailants be tested for HIV, the
virus that is generally believed to cause AIDS. A federal judge could order such a
procedure after determining that risk to the victim existed.
As in the original Act, VAWA 2000 created new stalking offenses, changing the
law to create penalties for a person who travels in interstate or foreign commerce
with the intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate a spouse or intimate partner, and
who in the course of such travel commits or attempts to commit a crime of violence
against the spouse or intimate partner. It also created penalties for a person who
causes a spouse or intimate partner to travel in interstate or foreign commerce by
force or coercion and in the course of such travel commits or attempts to commit a
crime of violence against the spouse or intimate partner. The bill added the intimate
partners of the victim as people covered under the interstate stalking statute, and
made it a crime to use the mail or any facility of interstate or foreign commerce to
engage in a course of conduct that would place a person in reasonable fear of harm

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CRS-4
to themselves or their immediate family or intimate partner. Additionally, VAWA
2000 created penalties for any person who travels in interstate or foreign commerce
with the intent of violating a protection order or causes a person to travel in interstate
or foreign commerce by force or coercion and violates a protection order.5
Civil Rights and Supreme Court Ruling6
Under Title IV, subtitle C — “Civil Rights for Women,” of the 1994 Act,
language was included that would have permitted private damage suits in federal
court by victims of “gender motivated violence.” This provision was struck down
(5-4) on May 15, 2000, by the Supreme Court in United States v. Morrison as
unconstitutional under the Commerce Clause and the Fourteenth Amendment.7 The
Court found that such violence did not substantially affect interstate commerce. It
further noted that the Fourteenth Amendment is directed at state actions, not those
of private citizens. None of the other provisions of the 1994 Act have been
challenged in the Supreme Court.
Grant Programs
Unaffected by the court decision were grant programs created by VAWA and
placed within DOJ and HHS. These programs are administered by the states and
funds can be allocated by the states to state agencies, Indian tribal governments, units
of local government and private nonprofit groups, and include grants to improve law
enforcement and prosecution of violent crimes against women, grants to encourage
arrests in domestic violence incidents, moneys for rural domestic violence and child
abuse enforcement, rape prevention and education programs, and grants for battered
women’s shelters, among others. (A national domestic violence hotline is funded to
a single contractor under the administration of HHS.) The FY1995-FY2001 funding
levels of these programs are listed in Table 1. Funding was authorized through
FY2000 under the Violent Crime Reduction Trust Fund (VCRTF), created under
Title XXXI of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.
Authorization for VCRTF expired at the end of FY2000. Nonetheless, most of the
programs in VAWA received appropriations for FY2001. (For a description of the
grant programs in VAWA, see Appendix A.)8
5 P.L. 106-386, Section 1107.
6 For a detailed analysis of United States v. Morrison, and its effect on VAWA, see CRS
Report RS20584, United States v. Morrison: The Supreme Court Declares 42 U.S.C. §13981
Unconstitutional, by T.J. Halstead, May 22, 2000.
7 Nonetheless, victims can still bring damage suit in state courts.
8 For detailed information on the grant programs and the application process, please consult
the Department of Justice’s Violence Against Women Office at [http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/
vawo/applicationkits.htm]. For information on grant programs in each state consult
[http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/stategrants.htm].

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Reauthorizing Legislation
On October 28, 2000, President Clinton signed into law the Victims of
Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386; H.R. 3244/Smith),
of which division B is the Violence Against Women Act of 2000. The Violence
Against Women Act of 2000 continued to support VAWA by reauthorizing current
programs and adding new initiatives including grants to assist victims of dating
violence, transitional housing for victims of violence, a pilot program aimed at
protecting children during visits with a parent who has been accused of domestic
violence, and protections from violence for elderly and disabled women. It also
made technical amendments, and required grant recipients to submit reports on the
effectiveness of programs funded by the grants to aid with the dissemination of
information on successful programs. The bill amended the Public Health Service Act
(P.L. 98-457) to require that certain funds be used exclusively for rape prevention
and education programs. Moreover, the bill made it easier for battered immigrant
women to leave and to help prosecute their abusers. Under the old law, battered
immigrant women could be deported if they leave abusers who are their sponsors for
residency and citizenship in the United States. VAWA 2000 created special rules for
alien battered spouses and children to allow them to remain in the United States.9
(For a detailed listing of the new initiatives, please see Appendix B).
Actual appropriations for VAWA programs tend to be less than the amounts
authorized in the bill. VAWA 2000 authorizes $3.2 billion for VAWA grant
programs from FY2001 through FY2005: $667.5 million for FY2001, $642.3 million
for FY2002, $627.3 million for FY2003 and FY2004, $626.8 million for FY2005.
(See Table 2.)
Funding Under the Violence Against Women Act
With passage of H.R. 4754 on July 8, 2004, the House would provide FY2005
funding of $383.55 million for DOJ’s violence against women programs, which is
slightly less than the amount requested by the Administration. For FY2005,
President Bush requested a total of $514.11 million for VAWA programs compared
to FY2005 authorization levels of $626.8 million. Of the requested funding, $385.5
million is for grants administered by the Department of Justice and $128.65 million
is for programs administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
These VAWA programs address domestic violence and improve services for victims
and their dependents. The Bush Administration requests $15 million for the
transitional housing assistance programs as a set-aside under the VAWA STOP
Formula Grant Program.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2004 became law on January 23,
2004 (P.L. 108-199; H.R. 2673). Congress appropriated total FY2004 funding of
$517 million for VAWA programs. This compares to President Bush’s total request
9 See CRS Report RL30559, Immigration: Noncitizen Victims of Family Violence, by
Andorra Bruno and Alison Siskin.

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CRS-6
of $512.4 million for VAWA grant programs. For VAWA programs that are
administered by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Congress provided $387.6 million.
For domestic violence programs that are administered by the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS), the conference agreement provided $129.4 million, of
which $126.4 million would be for Grants for Battered Women’s Shelters and $3
million for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. (Note: these amounts are
subject to a 0.59% across-the-board rescission included in the bill.) Congress also
appropriated $15 million for the transitional housing assistance grants program as a
separate line-item.
For FY2004, the House Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Committee
(CJS) (H.R. 2799; H.Rept.108-221) recommended $387.63 million for violence
against women prevention and prosecution programs that are administered by DOJ.
According to the Committee report, funding would have supported efforts of law
enforcement officers and prosecutors to address crimes against women, develop and
establish policies that would enhance the prevention, identification, and response to
crimes against women, and provide services, such as domestic violence court
advocates for victims of crime.
The Senate CJS Committee (S. 1585; S.Rept. 108-144) for FY2004
recommended $406 million for Violence Against Women Act programs, of which
$185 million would have been for general formula grants to states. This funding
would have been used to establish effective arrest and prosecution policies to
prevent, identify, and respond to violent crimes against women, to address stalking,
and to offer needed victims services such as specialized domestic violence court
advocates who obtain protection orders. Recommended funding would have
supported two programs in Alaska — $950,000 for a domestic violence protection
unit and $500,000 for the Standing Together Against Rape program.
For domestic violence programs that are administered by the Department of
Health and Human Services for FY2004, both the House (July 10, 2003) and Senate
(September 10, 2003) passed H.R. 2660, the Labor, Health, Human Services, and
Education Appropriations bill. The Senate, however, after passing H.R. 2660,
amended it on September 11. On October 2, the House disagreed to the amended bill
and requested a conference. Both the House-passed H.R. 2660 and the Senate-passed
and -amended H.R. 2660 would have provided $3 million for the National Domestic
Violence Hotline and $126.4 million for family violence prevention and services and
battered women’s shelters. This funding would have assisted states in preventing
family violence and would have provided immediate shelter and related assistance
for victims of domestic violence and their dependents as well as provided states,
public agencies, law enforcement agencies, nonprofit private organizations, and
others seeking technical assistance and training relating to family violence programs.
For FY2004, President Bush requested a total of $512.40 million for VAWA
programs, with $385.40 million for programs administered by the Department of
Justice (DOJ) and $127 million for programs administered by the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS.). As Table 3 shows, the President’s budget for
FY2004 requested funding below levels authorized for these programs. As in
FY2003, there was no funding request for Federal Victims Counselors or the
Domestic Violence Task Force. The Administration requested funding for the Safe

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Havens for Children Pilot Program, which was not authorized for FY2004. The
FY2004 funding request for VAWA Grants for Battered Women Shelters,
administered by HHS, was $124.42 million, which was $2.81 million less than the
appropriation for FY2004. Authorized funding for this program in FY2004 was $175
million.
Total FY2003 funds appropriated for VAWA was $519.98 million — $390.17
million for Department of Justice programs and $129.81 million for Health and
Human Services programs. President Bush requested a total of $520 million for
VAWA programs, of which $390 million was for programs administered by DOJ and
$127 million was for programs administered by HHS. The Administration did not
request funding for Federal Victims Counselors or the Domestic Violence Task
Force. The President requested funding for two programs that were not authorized
for FY2003 — Safe Havens for Children Pilot Program and Training Programs for
Medical Personnel Who Perform Sexual Assault Forensic Exams. FY2003 funding
request for VAWA Grants for Battered Women Shelters, administered by HHS, was
$125 million; the same amount appropriated in FY2002. Authorized funding for this
program in FY2003 was $175 million.
In FY2002, funding appropriated for VAWA programs totaled $517.22 million
— VAWA programs administered by DOJ received a total of $390.60 million, while
VAWA programs under HHS received $126.62 million. Within HHS, the President
requested funding for programs at FY2001 appropriations levels, and did not request
monies for the transitional housing grant program created in VAWA 2000. The
President also requested $44 million for rape prevention and education grants;
however, these grants were not specified by name in the Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education Appropriations Act of FY2002. Rather, the Administration
proposed that funding for these grants be included as part of Injury Prevention
Grants. Congress provided $149.8 million for Injury Prevention Grants.
For FY2001, the President requested $481 million and Congress appropriated
$407.1 million for VAWA programs, however, funding for VAWA programs created
in the original Act did not truly decrease from FY2000 appropriation levels. Grants
to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Runaway and Homeless Youth were reauthorized in the
Missing, Exploited, and Runway Children Protection Act (P.L. 106-71) and received
appropriations of $15 million, prior to the rescission, for FY2001. In addition, the
Center for Disease Control received $176 million for prevention grants such as Rape
Education and Prevention and Community Domestic Violence Programs, but the
appropriations bill failed to specify amounts for the different programs. Assuming
FY2001 funding levels for the prevention grants remained at FY2000 levels, funding
for VAWA programs increased by almost $20 million between FY2000 and
FY2001.10 (The FY2000 amount enacted for VAWA programs was $435.75 million,
$3 million less than the amount enacted for FY1999.11) As Table 1 shows, not all
10 The Center for Disease Control reports that these grants received $45 million in FY2001.
11 Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2000 (P.L. 106-113) signed by President Clinton
on Oct. 29, 1999. (See source note at end of table for complete Congressional Record
citation.)

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CRS-8
of the programs enacted under VAWA have been funded continuously; some have
received money for a brief period only, while others have never been funded.
Debate Over Gender Inclusiveness
Although the programs in the original VAWA law tended to be popular among
criminal justice practitioners, and VAWA 2000 passed with almost unanimous
support in Congress, VAWA did have its critics. Most of the criticisms of VAWA
and VAWA 2000 came from those who felt that violence was a problem of both men
and women, and that both men and women were victims of domestic violence. They
argued that the programs in VAWA only addressed the needs of women victims.12
Opponents of the law also felt that the legislation was paternalistic; it implied that
women needed special protections.13 Proponents of VAWA argued that the language
of the law was gender-neutral and that programs could address the needs of men as
well as women.14
Transitional Housing Assistance
Congress, in passing the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act (P.L. 108-36),
amended the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act and reauthorized the
transitional housing assistance program for FY2003 through FY2008 that is
administered by HHS. No funding, however, has been provided for the transitional
housing assistance program under HHS, which was originally established in VAWA
2000.
On April 30, 2003, the Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the
Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003 was enacted (the PROTECT Act, P.L.
108-21). This act contains provisions for transitional housing assistance that are very
similar to the transitional housing provisions of the amended Family Violence
Prevention and Services Act that is administered by HHS. The PROTECT Act,
however, provides for DOJ to administer the transitional housing assistance program.
Among other provisions, the act directs the Attorney General, in consultation with
the Director of VAWO, to provide transitional housing assistance grants to states,
units of local governments, Indian tribes, and other organizations. These grants can
assist persons who need transitional housing as a result of fleeing domestic violence
conditions, and for whom emergency shelter services are lacking or are inadequate.
For 18 months, eligible persons can receive assistance with short-term housing
(including rental), utilities payments, security deposits, and other expenses related to
12 For more information see the American Coalition for Fathers & Children homepage
[http://www.acfc.org], visited on Sept. 28, 2000.
13 Stephanie Gutmann, “Are All Men Rapists?” National Review, v. 45, Aug. 1993, p. 44-47.
Cathy Young, “Act Stirs Up Debate on Crime and Gender,” Insight, v. 9, Nov. 29, 1993, p.
12-16.
14 For more information see the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence homepage
[http://www.ncadv.org], visited on Oct. 10, 2000.

---

CRS-9
relocating to transitional housing. Grant recipients can waive the 18-month period
and extend assistance for six more months to persons who have made a good-faith
effort to acquire permanent housing but have been unsuccessful. In addition, a
minor, an adult, or a dependent of such minor or adult who is escaping a domestic
violence situation can receive support services to locate and secure permanent
housing, and transportation, counseling, child care services, case management,
employment counseling, and other assistance to become integrated into a community.
The act requires a grant recipient to prepare an annual report for submission to
the Attorney General that describes the number of minors, adults, and dependents
assisted and the types of housing assistance and support services that were provided.
Each year, the Attorney General, with the Director of VAWO, must submit a report
to the Judiciary Committees of the House and Senate that is a compilation of
information provided annually by a grant recipient. For grants, Congress authorized
to be appropriated $30 million for each fiscal year 2004 through 2008. Of this
amount, the Attorney General in any fiscal year can use no more than 3% for salaries
and administrative expenses. For the transitional housing program for FY2004,
Congress appropriated $15 million as a separate line item in the FY2004
Consolidated Appropriations Act. For FY2005, President Bush requests $180
million for STOP grant programs, of which $15 million is a set-aside for transitional
housing assistance.

---

CRS-10
Table 1. Funds Appropriated for Violence Against Women Grant Programs, FY1996-FY2001
(budget authority in millions of dollars)
Admin.
FY1995
FY1996
FY1997
FY1998
FY1999
FY2000
FY2001
Program
agency
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacteda
Law Enforcement and Prosecution Grants (STOP Grants)
OJP
26.00
130.00
145.00
172.00
206.75
206.75
209.72
(Section 40121)
Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies (Section 40231)
OJP
0.00
28.00
33.00
59.00
34.00
34.00
33.93
Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement
OJP
0.00
7.00
8.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
24.95
(Section 40295)
Court Appointed Special Advocates for Victims of Child
OJP
0.00
6.00
6.00
7.00
9.00
10.00
11.48
Abuse (Section 40156a)
Training for Judicial Personnel and Practitioners for Victims
OJP
0.00
0.75
1.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
1.95
of Child Abuse (Section 40156b)
Grants for Televised Testimony by Victims of Child Abuse
OJP
0.00
0.05
0.55
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
(Section 40156c)
National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction Grants
OJP
0.00
1.50
1.75
2.75
0.00
0.00
0.00
(Section 40602)
Training Programs for Probation and Parole Officers Who
OJP
0.00
1.00
1.00
2.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
Work With Released Sex Offenders (Section 40152)
National Study on Campus Sexual Assault (Section 40506)
OJP
0.00
0.00
0.20
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
State Databases Studies (Section 40292)
OJP
0.00
0.20
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Federal Victim Counselors (Section 40114)
USA
0.00
0.00
1.00
1.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Subtotal: Department of Justice
26.00
174.50
197.50
270.75
282.75
283.75
288.03
Training Judges/Court Personnel (Section 40421-22)
N/A
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Subtotal: The Judiciary
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Equal Justice for Women in Courts/Training Grants (Section
N/A
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
40411-14)
Subtotal: State Justice Institute
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

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CRS-11
Admin.
FY1995
FY1996
FY1997
FY1998
FY1999
FY2000
FY2001
Program
agency
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacteda
National Domestic Violence Hotline (Section 40211)
ACF
1.00
0.00
1.20
1.20
1.20
2.00
2.16
Grants to Reduce Sexual Abuse of Runaway, Homeless, and
ACF
0.00
5.56
8.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
Street Youth (Section 40155)
b
Grants for Battered Women Shelters (Section 40241)
ACF
0.00
15.00
10.80
76.80
88.80
101.50
116.92
Transitional Housing for Victims of Domestic Violence
ACF
0.00
(Section 1203 of VAWA)
National Number and Cost of Injuries Study (Section 40293)
CDC
0.00
0.10
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Rape Prevention and Education Grants (Section 40151)
CDC
0.00
28.54
35.00
45.00
45.00
45.00
c
Community Programs on Domestic Violence (Section
CDC
1.00
3.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
40261)
c
Subtotal: Department of Health and Human Services
1.00
52.20
61.00
144.00
156.00 169.50
119.08
Grand Total
27.00
227.10
258.50
420.75
438.75
453.25
407.11
Sources: For FY1995-FY2000 funding information, see Budget of the United States Government: Appendix for indicated years under named agencies. FY2001: Commerce, Justice
State Appropriations (P.L. 106-553) signed into law on Dec. 21, 2000. FY2001: Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations (P.L. 106-554) signed into law
on Dec. 21, 2000.
a. The FY2001 Consolidated Appropriations Act ( P.L. 106-554) contained a provision mandating a 0.22% government-wide rescission of discretionary budget authority for FY2001
for all government agencies (except for certain defense activities). The amounts appropriated for FY2001 in the table include the rescission.
b. These grants were reauthorized through FY2003 by the Missing, Exploited, and Runway Children Protection Act (P.L. 106-71; S. 249/Hatch), which was signed into law on Oct.
12, 1999. Thus, these monies are not included in the total of VAWA funds for FY2001.
c. These grants were not specified by name in the appropriations bill. In H.R. 4577, however, the CDC was allocated $175.97 million for injury prevention grants which would include
these programs. The House Appropriations Committee report mentioned that $45 million should be appropriated for rape prevention grants, however, this language was not
included in the bill.
Abbreviations to table.
In DOJ: USA (United States Attorneys), OJP (Office of Justice Programs)
In HHS: ACF (Administration for Children and Families), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

---

CRS-12
Table 2. Funding Authorized in the Violence Against Women Act 2000 (P.L. 106-386)
($ in millions)
Admin.
Program
FY2001
FY2002
FY2003
FY2004
FY2005
agency
Law Enforcement and Prosecution (STOP) Grants (Section 1102-1103)
OJP
185.00
185.00
185.00
185.00
185.00
Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies (Section 1104)
OJP
65.00
65.00
65.00
65.00
65.00
Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement (Section 1105)
OJP
40.00
40.00
40.00
40.00
40.00
Court Appointed Special Advocates for Victims of Child Abuse (Section 1302)
OJP
12.00
12.00
12.00
12.00
12.00
Training for Judicial Personnel and Practitioners for Victims of Child Abuse (Section 1302)
OJP
2.30
2.30
2.30
2.30
2.30
Grants for Televised Testimony by Victims of Child Abuse (Section 1302)
OJP
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction Grants (Section 1106)
OJP
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
Training Programs for Law Enforcement Officers on Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation (Section
OJP 5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
1209)
Civil and Legal Assistance for Victims of Violence (Section 1201)
OJP
40.00
40.00
40.00
40.00
40.00
Safe Havens for Children Pilot Program (Section 1301)
OJP
15.00
15.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Grants to Decrease Violence Against Women with Disabilities (Section 1402)
OJP
7.50
7.50
7.50
7.50
7.50
Training Programs for Medical Personnel who Perform Sexual Assault Forensic Exams (Section 1405)
OJP
.20
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Domestic Violence Task Force (Section 1407)
OJP
.50
.50
.50
.50
0.00
Federal Victim Counselors (Section 1205)
USA
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
Subtotal: Department of Justice
377.50
377.30
362.30
362.30
361.80
Training Judges/Court Personnel (Section 1406(b))
N/A
.50
.50
.50
.50
.50
Subtotal: The Judiciary
.50
.50
.50
.50
.50
Equal Justice for Women in Courts/Training Grants (Section 1406(a))
N/A
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
Subtotal: State Justice Institute
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5

---

CRS-13
Admin.
Program
FY2001
FY2002
FY2003
FY2004
FY2005
agency
National Domestic Violence Hotline (Section 1204)
ACF
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
Grants for Battered Women Shelters (Section 1202)
ACF
175.00
175.00
175.00
175.00
175.00
Transitional Housing for Victims of Domestic Violence (Section 1203)
ACF
25.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Rape Prevention and Education Grants (Section 1402)
CDC
80.00
80.00
80.00
80.00
80.00
Community Programs on Domestic Violence (Section 1403)
CDC
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
6.00
Subtotal: Department of Health and Human Services
288.00
263.00
263.00
263.00
263.00
Grand Total
667.50
642.30
627.30
627.30
626.80
Source: Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386) as signed by the President on Oct. 28, 2000.
Note: Section numbers refer to P.L. 106-386.
List of Abbreviations.
Within DOJ: USA: United States Attorneys , OJP: Office of Justice Programs
Within HHS: ACF: Administration for Children and Families, CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

---

CRS-14
Table 3. Funding Authorized in the Violence Against Women Act 2000 (P.L. 106-386)
for FY2005, Appropriations for FY2003 and FY2004,
and Amounts Requested in the President’s FY2005 Budget
($ in millions)
Admin.
FY2003
FY2004
Authoriz.
Request
Program
agency
enacted
enacted
FY2005
FY2005
Law Enforcement and Prosecution (STOP) Grants (Section 1102-1103)
OJP
$184.54
$168.33
$185.00
$180.15
Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies (Section 1104)
OJP
64.93
64.50
65.00
64.19
Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement (Section 1105)
OJP
39.95
39.68
40.00
39.49
Court Appointed Special Advocates for Victims of Child Abuse (Section 1302)
OJP
11.98
11.89
12.00
11.83
Training for Judicial Personnel and Practitioners for Victims of Child Abuse (Section 1302)
OJP
2.30
2.28
2.30
2.27
Grants for Televised Testimony by Victims of Child Abuse (Section 1302)
OJP
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction Grants (Section 1106)
OJP
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
Training Programs for Probation and Parole Officers Who Work With Released Sex Offenders (Section not included in
OJP
5.00
5.00
— a
5.00
VAWA 2000)
Grants to Reduce Crimes Against Women on Campus (Section 1108)
OJP
10.00
10.00
— b
10.00
Training Programs for Law Enforcement Officers on to Enhance Protections Against Elder Abuse, Neglect, and
OJP 5.00
5.00
5.00
5.00
Exploitation (Section 1209)
Civil and Legal Assistance for Victims of Violence (Section 1201)
OJP
40.00
40.00
40.00
42.00
Safe Havens for Children Pilot Program (Section 1301)
OJP
15.00
15.00
0.00
15.00
Grants to Decrease Violence Against Women with Disabilities (Section 1402)
OJP
7.50
7.45
7.50
7.41
Training Programs for Medical Personnel who Perform Sexual Assault Forensic Exams (Section 1405)
OJP
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Report on Parental Kidnaping (Section 1303)
OJP
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
Domestic Violence Task Force (Section 1407)
OJP
0.00
0.00
.50
0.00
Federal Victim Counselors (Section 1205)
USA
0.00
0.00
1.00
0.00
Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Child Victims of Domestic Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault (Section
30.00
e
not included in VAWA 2000)e
VAWO
0.00
15.00
e
e
Subtotal: Department of Justice
$390.20
$388.13
$392.30
$386.34
Training Judges/Court Personnel (Section 1406(b))
N/A
0.00
0.00
.50
0.00
Subtotal: The Judiciary
0.00
0.00
.50
0.00
Equal Justice for Women in Courts/Training Grants (Section 1406(a))
N/A
0.00
0.00
1.50
0.00
Subtotal: State Justice Institute
0.00
0.00
1.50
0.00

---

CRS-15
Admin.
FY2003
FY2004
Authoriz.
Request
Program
agency
enacted
enacted
FY2005
FY2005
National Domestic Violence Hotline (Section 1204)
ACF
2.16
2.58
2.00
3.00
Grants for Battered Women Shelters (Section 1202)
ACF
124.46
126.40
175.00
125.65
Transitional Housing for Victims of Domestic Violence (Section 1203 of VAWA; administered by HHS)f
ACF
0.00
0.00
25.00
0.00
Rape Prevention and Education Grants (Section 1402)
CDC
0.00
c
80.00
-d
Community Programs on Domestic Violence (Section 1403)
CDC
0.00
c
6.00
-d
Subtotal: Department of Health and Human Services
126.62
128.98
288.00
128.65
Grand Total
$516.82
$517.11
$682.30
$514.99
Sources: Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386) as signed by the President on Oct. 28, 2000. For FY2005 budget request, see Budget of the United States Government: Appendix under
named agencies. The FY2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-199), which includes appropriations for Commerce, Justice, State and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, signed
into law on Jan. 23, 2004.
Note: Section numbers refer to P.L. 106-386. Totals may not add due to rounding.
a. VAWA 2000 did not reauthorize training programs for probation and parole officers who work with released sex offenders.
b. .VAWA 2000 authorized “such sums as may be necessary” for grants to reduce crimes against women on campuses.
c. These grants were not specified by name in the FY2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-199) which includes appropriations for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services. The
Center for Disease Control allocated $43.6 million for Rape Prevention and Education Grants for FY2004.
d. Grants for rape prevention and education and community programs on domestic violence were not given a separate line number in the President’s budget.
e. Administered by VAWO as provided in Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today Act of 2003, Title VI, Sec. 611, Transitional Housing Assistance Grants
for Child Victims of Domestic Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault ( P.L. 108-21, Apr. 30, 2003; 117 Stat. 693). For each fiscal year 2004 through 2008, the act authorized to be appropriated
$30 million for the transitional housing assistance program under DOJ. This account was a separate line-item in the FY2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act. For FY2005, the President proposes
$15 million for this program as a set-aside under the VAWA STOP Formula Grants Program.
f. The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-36) amended provisions of the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act by extending the authorization for transitional housing
assistance program administered by HHS to fiscal years 2003 through 2008.

---

CRS-16
Appendix A: Description of Grant Programs
Law Enforcement and Prosecution (Special Training Officers
and Prosecutors (STOP)) Grants
The purpose of STOP grants, administered by the Attorney General, is to help
state governments, Indian tribal governments, and units of local government
strengthen law enforcement, prosecution, and victims’ services in cases involving
violent crimes against women. These grants may be used to provide personnel,
training, technical assistance, data collection, and other equipment to increase the
apprehension, prosecution, and adjudication of persons committing violent crimes
against women. Activities may include:
! training law enforcement officers and prosecutors to more
effectively identify and respond to violent crimes against women,
including those of sexual assault, domestic violence, and dating
violence;
! developing, training, or expanding units of law enforcement officers
and prosecutors specifically targeting violent crimes against women;
! developing and implementing more effective police and prosecution
policies, protocols, orders, and services specifically devoted to
preventing, identifying and responding to violent crimes against
women;
! developing, installing, or expanding relevant data collection and
communication systems;
! developing, enlarging, or strengthening programs for relevant victim
services to address stalking and to address the needs and
circumstances of Indian tribes in dealing with violent crimes against
women including dating violence;
! developing, enlarging, or strengthening programs to assist law
enforcement and the courts to address the needs of older individuals
and individuals with disabilities who are the victims of domestic
violence and sexual assault;
! coordinating the response of state law enforcement agencies,
prosecutors, courts, victim service agencies, and other state agencies
to violence crimes against women, including dating violence; and
! training of sexual assault forensic medical personnel in the
collection and preservation of evidence, analysis, prevention, and
providing expert testimony and treatment of trauma related to sexual
assault.
At least 25% of each grant must be allotted, without duplication, to each of three
areas, respectively: prosecution, law enforcement, and victim services. Of the
amounts appropriated: 5% is allocated to Indian tribal governments; $600,000 is
available for grants to applicants in each state; 5% of the funds must be set aside for
state sexual assault and domestic violence coalitions; and the remaining funds are to
be distributed to applicants in each state on the basis of relative population. For more
information see [http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/funds_uses.htm]. [Section 40121]

---

CRS-17
State Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition Grants
These grants are distributed by the Attorney General for state domestic violence
and sexual assault coalitions. Such coalitions shall further the purposes of domestic
violence or sexual assault intervention and prevention through information and
training. Each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the combined U.S.
Territories should receive 1/53rd of the funds allocated. 2.5% of the STOP funds are
set aside, each, for state sexual assault and domestic violence coalitions.
Rape Prevention and Education Grants
The funds for these grants are added to the Preventive Health Services Block
Grants monies already distributed to the states by the Department of Health and
Human Services. The grants may be used by the states for rape prevention and
education programs conducted by rape crisis centers or similar nongovernmental
nonprofit entities. Specifically, these grants may be used for:

! educational seminars
! operation of rape crisis hotlines
! training programs for professionals
! the preparation of training materials
! education and training for students and campus personnel
! education to increase awareness about drugs used to facilitate rapes
or sexual assaults
! other efforts to increase awareness or prevent sexual assault
especially in underserved communities.
Of the monies provided to the states 25% must be used for education in middle,
junior high, and high schools. Grants are made on the basis of the relative population
of each state. [Section 40151-152]
National Domestic Violence Hotline
These funds are authorized for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to
make a grant to a private, non-profit entity to provide for the operation of a national,
toll-free telephone hotline to provide information and assistance to victims of
domestic violence. The grant may fund the use and operation of the telephone line;
the employment, training, and supervision of personnel to answer calls and provide
counseling and referral services on a 24-hour basis; the establishment of a database
with information and services available for victims of domestic violence; and the
advertisement of the hotline to potential users nationwide. [Section 40211]
Grants to Encourage Arrests Policies in Domestic Violence
Cases
The purpose of these grants is to assist state governments, Indian tribal
governments, and units of local government in treating domestic violence as a serious
violation of criminal law. Grants may be used to:

---

CRS-18
! implement mandatory arrest or pro-arrest programs and policies in
police departments;
! develop policies and training in police departments to improve
tracking of cases involving domestic violence and dating violence;
! centralize and coordinate police enforcement, prosecution, or
judicial responsibility for domestic violence cases;
! coordinate computer tracking systems to ensure communication
between police, prosecutors, and the courts;
! strengthen legal advocacy service programs for victims of domestic
violence and dating violence;
! develop or strengthen policies and training for the police,
prosecutors, and the judiciary in recognizing, investigating, and
prosecuting instances of domestic violence and sexual assault
against older individuals and individuals with disabilities; and
! educate judges about domestic violence and improve judicial
handling of such cases.
Applicants must certify that their laws or official policies encourage or mandate
arrest policies in domestic violence cases and do not require the abused to bear the
costs associated with the filing of criminal charges. Priority is given to applicants
who do not currently provide for centralized handling of cases involving domestic
violence by police, prosecutors, and the courts, and to those who demonstrate a
commitment to strong enforcement and prosecution of such cases. For more
information consult [http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/vawo/arrest_grant_desc.htm].
[Section 40231]
Grants for Battered Women’s Shelters
These grants are distributed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services for
battered women’s shelters. The grants for each state are allocated based on the
relative population of the state except that (1) each state is allocated not less than 1%
of the total grant or $600,000 which ever is less; and (2) Guam, American Samoa, the
Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands are allotted not less than one-eighth of 1% of the amounts available for
grants. [Section 40241]
Community Programs on Domestic Violence
These grants are provided by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to
non-profit private organizations for the purpose of establishing projects in local
communities to coordinate intervention and prevention efforts against domestic
violence.
Grants will fund local projects that coordinate efforts among such sectors as
health care providers, the education community, the religious community, the
criminal justice system, human service entities, and business and civic leaders.
Grants may be made for up to three years and are to be geographically dispersed
throughout the country. [Section 40261]

---

CRS-19
National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction Grants
Provides authority for the Attorney General to make grants to state and units of
local government to improve data entry for cases of stalking and domestic violence
in local, state, and national crime information databases most notably the National
Crime Information Center (NCIC).
Applicants must certify that they have established a program that enters into the
NCIC records of:
! warrants for the arrest of persons violating protection orders
intended to protect victims from stalking and domestic violence;
! arrests or convictions of persons violating protection or domestic
violence; and
! protection orders for the protection of persons from stalking and
domestic violence.
These grants are awarded on a need-based basis for entities that do not have this type
of system in place. [Sections 40602-607]
Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement
Grants
These grants are provided by the Attorney General to states, Indian tribal
governments, or local governments of rural states, and to other public and private
entities of rural states to (1) implement, expand and establish cooperative efforts and
projects between law enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim advocacy groups, and
other related parties to investigate and prosecute incidents of domestic violence,
dating violence, and child abuse; (2) provide treatment and counseling to such
victims; and (3) work cooperatively to develop education and prevention strategies
at the community level. A minimum of 5% of the grant monies are allocated to
Indian tribal government. For more information see [http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/
vawo/rural_grant_desc.htm]. [Section 40295]
Victims of Child Abuse Grants
VAWA amended the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to provide
authorization for three purposes:
! the court-appointed special advocate program;
! child abuse training programs for judicial personnel and
practitioners; and
! grants for televised testimony.
Priority for the court-appointed special advocate program grants are given to
localities that do not have existing programs and to programs in need of expansion.
Priority for child abuse training programs are given to programs that aim to improve
the procedures of child service agencies.

---

CRS-20
Federal Victims Counselors
This money is allocated to the U.S. Attorneys to appoint victims/witness
counselors for prosecution of sex and domestic violence crimes where applicable.
[Section 40114]
Grants to Reduce Sexual Abuse of Runaway, Homeless, and
Street Youth
The Secretary of Health and Human Services may make grants to private, non-
profit agencies for prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation of runaway, homeless,
and street youth. Funds may be used for street-based outreach and education,
including treatment, counseling, provision of information and referrals for those
subject to or at risk of sexual abuse. Priority is given to those agencies with
experience in providing services to this population. These grant were reauthorized
through FY2003 by the Missing, Exploited, and Runway Children Protection Act
(P.L. 106-71; S. 249/Hatch), which was signed into law on October 12, 1999.
[Section 40155]
Equal Justice for Women in the Courts
The State Justice Institute and the Federal Judicial Center, respectively, may
make grants to provide model programs involving training of judges and court
personnel in state and federal courts on rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, and
other gender motivated crimes.
The State Justice Institute grants may be used to train Indian tribal judges and
court personnel in the laws on rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating
violence, and other crimes of violence motivated by the victim’s gender. The funds
may also be used for training on the issues raised by domestic violence and sexual
assault in determining custody and visitation. At least 40% of funds must be
expended on model programs regarding domestic violence and at least 40% of funds
must be expended on model programs regarding rape and sexual assault.
The Federal Judicial Center grants may be used to educate and train judges on
issues related to gender bias in the courts. [Sections 40411-414, 40421-422].

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Appendix B: New Initiatives in the
Violence Against Women Act 2000
Grant Programs
Grants for Legal Assistance to Victims. VAWA 2000 authorizes the
Attorney General to award grants to private nonprofit entities, Indian tribal
governments, and publically funded organizations to increase the availability of legal
assistance to victims of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault in legal matters,
such as immigration, housing matters, and protection orders, at minimum or no cost
to the victim. These grants may be used to establish or expand cooperative efforts
between victim services organizations and legal assistance providers, by providing
training, technical assistance, and data collection. [Section 1201]
Short Term Transitional Housing. VAWA 2000 included grants for short-
term transitional housing assistance and support services for victims of domestic
abuse. These grants are administered by the Secretary of HHS. [Section 1203]
Older and Disabled Individuals. VAWA 2000 amends the language of
STOP grants and “Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies” to provide funds to increase
protection of older individuals and individuals with disabilities from domestic
violence and sexual assault through policies and training for police, prosecutors, and
the judiciary. It also creates new grants, administered by the Attorney General, for
training programs to assist law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and court officials
in addressing, investigating and prosecuting instances of elder abuse, neglect, and
exploitation, and violence against individuals with disabilities, including domestic
violence and sexual assault. VAWA 2000 authorizes $5 million annually, FY2001-
FY2005 for grants for these training programs. [Section 1209]
Safe Haven Pilot Program. VAWA 2000 authorizes the Attorney General
to award grants to state, local, and Indian tribal governments to provide supervised
visitation and safe visitation exchange for children involved in situations of domestic
violence, child abuse, or sexual assault. [Section 1301]
Other Initiatives
Studies. There are several studies authorized in VAWA 2000. These include
studies of: (1) insurance discrimination against victims of domestic violence; (2)
workplace effects of violence against women; (3) unemployment compensation for
women who are victims of violence; and (4) parental kidnaping. VAWA 2000 also
requires the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to develop a research agenda and plans
to implement the agenda based on the National Academy of Sciences’
recommendations in the report Understanding Violence Against Women. [Sections
1206-1208, 1303-1304]

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Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act of 2000. VAWA 2000
contains the Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act of 2000, which provides for
increased protection of immigrant women who are victims of domestic abuse, and
creates special rules for alien battered spouses and children to allow them to remain
in the United States.15 [Sections 1501-1513]
Dating Violence. VAWA 2000 defines “dating violence” as:
violence committed by a person (A) who is or has been in a social relationship
of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and (B) where the existence of
such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following
factors: (i) the length of the relationship; (ii) the type of relationship; and (iii) the
frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.
VAWA 2000 amends the original law so that STOP grants, grants to encourage arrest
policies, and rural domestic violence grants can be awarded for programs to combat
“dating violence.” [Section 1109]
Task Force on Domestic Violence. VAWA 2000 also establishes a task
force to coordinate research on domestic violence. [Section 1407]
15 See CRS Report RL30559, Immigration: Noncitizen Victims of Family Violence, by
Andorra Bruno and Alison Siskin.

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