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The Violence Against Women Act:
Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Lisa N. Sacco
Analyst in Illicit Drugs and Crime Policy
April 24, 2012
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R42499
CRS Report for Congress
Pr
epared for Members and Committees of Congress

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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Summary
In 1994, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA, P.L. 103-322). The act was
intended to change attitudes toward domestic violence, foster awareness of domestic violence,
improve services and provisions for victims, and revise the manner in which the criminal justice
system responds to domestic violence. This legislation created new programs within the
Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services that aimed to both reduce domestic
violence and improve response to and recovery from domestic violence incidents. VAWA
primarily addresses certain types of violent crime through grant programs to state, tribal, and
local governments, nonprofit organizations, and universities. VAWA programs target the crimes of
intimate partner violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
In 1995, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) was created administratively within the
Department of Justice to administer federal grants authorized under VAWA. Since its creation, the
OVW has awarded more than $3 billion in grants. While the OVW administers the majority of
VAWA authorized grants, other federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and the Office of Justice Programs, also manage VAWA grants.
Since 1994, VAWA has been modified and reauthorized several times. In 2000, Congress
reauthorized VAWA, enhanced federal domestic violence and stalking penalties, added
protections for battered immigrants, and added new programs for elderly and disabled women. In
2005, Congress again reauthorized VAWA. The legislation enhanced penalties for repeat stalking
offenders; added protections for battered and trafficked immigrants; and added programs for
sexual assault victims and American Indian victims, and programs designed to improve the public
health response to domestic violence.
Authorization for appropriations for the programs under VAWA expired in 2011. Two bills have
been introduced in the 112th Congress that would reauthorize VAWA. On February 2, 2012, the
Senate Judiciary Committee ordered reported the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
of 2011 (S. 1925). On March 27, 2012, Representative Moore introduced the Violence Against
Women Reauthorization Act of 2012 (H.R. 4271). Both bills include adjustments to authorized
funds, increased attention to dating violence and stalking offenses, and new provisions for
battered immigrants. They also address jurisdictional issues on tribal lands.
The reauthorization of VAWA (S. 1925) has been met with some opposition in the Senate. Several
concerns were raised in the Senate Judiciary Committee Report (S.Rept. 112-153) and during the
Executive Business Meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee, including a proposed increase to
the cap on the number of U-Visas available for immigrants, a proposed addition to the number of
groups given special consideration as underserved populations, a proposed increase of
jurisdictional power for American Indian tribes, and the accountability of OVW grantees.

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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Contents
Background and History of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) ......................................... 1
Violence Against Women Act of 1994............................................................................................. 2
Investigations and Prosecutions................................................................................................. 2
Grant Programs.......................................................................................................................... 3
Violence Prevention ............................................................................................................ 3
Investigations and Prosecutions .......................................................................................... 3
Victim Services ................................................................................................................... 3
Other VAWA Requirements....................................................................................................... 4
Office on Violence Against Women .......................................................................................... 4
Categories of Crime Addressed through VAWA........................................................................ 4
Reauthorizations of VAWA........................................................................................................ 9
Reauthorization of VAWA and the 112th Congress ........................................................................ 10
Selected Issues in the Reauthorization of VAWA in the 112th Congress.................................. 12

Figures
Figure 1. Forcible Rapes Known to Police ...................................................................................... 7

Tables
Table A-1. Descriptions of Current VAWA Authorized Programs under the Department of
Justice (DOJ) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ...................................... 14
Table A-2. FY2008-FY2012 Authorization and Appropriations for VAWA Programs.................. 20

Appendixes
Appendix. Federal Programs Authorized by VAWA...................................................................... 14

Contacts
Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 31

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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Background and History of the Violence Against
Women Act (VAWA)

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), currently due for reauthorization, was originally
passed by Congress as Title IV of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
(P.L. 103-322). This act addressed congressional concerns about violent crime, and in particular,
violence against women, in several ways. Among other things, it enhanced investigations and
prosecutions of sex offenses by allowing for enhanced sentencing of repeat federal sex offenders,
mandating restitution to victims of specified federal sex offenses, and providing grants to state,
local, and tribal law enforcement entities to investigate and prosecute violent crimes against
women.
Congressional passage of VAWA was ultimately spurred on by decades of growing unease over
the rising violent crime rate and a focus on women as crime victims. Beginning in the 1960s, the
violent crime rate rose steadily,1 igniting concern from both the public and the federal
government. Supplementing the concern for the nation’s rising violent crime rate was the concern
for violence against women. In the 1970s, grassroots organizations began to stress the need for
attitudinal change regarding violence against women. These organizations sought a change in
attitude both among the public as well as the law enforcement community.2
In the 1980s, researchers began to address the violence against women issue as well. For instance,
Straus and Gelles collected data on family violence and attributed declines in spousal assault to
heightened awareness of the issue by both men and the criminal justice system.3 The criminal
justice system and the public were beginning to view family violence as a crime rather than a
private family matter.4
In 1984, Congress enacted the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA, P.L. 98-
457) to assist states in preventing incidents of family violence and to provide shelter and related
assistance to victims of family violence and their dependents. While FVPSA authorized programs
similar to those discussed in this report and has reauthorized programs that were originally
created by VAWA, such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline, it is a separate piece of
legislation and beyond the scope of this report.
In 1994, Congress passed a major crime bill, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement
Act of 1994.5 Among other things, the bill created an unprecedented number of programs geared
toward helping local law enforcement fight violent crime and servicing victims of violent crime.

1 Kathleen Maguire and Ann Pastore, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics 1994, Bureau of Justice Statistics,
Tables 3.108, 3.131, http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/pdf/sb1994/sb1994-section3.pdf; and U.S. Department of
Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime in the United States, http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/ucr. Violent
crimes include murders, non-negligent manslaughters, and aggravated assaults.
2 Kimberley D. Bailey, “Lost in Translation: Domestic Violence, “the Personal is Political,” and the Criminal Justice
System.,” Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology, vol. 100, no. 4 (Fall 2010), pp. 1255-1300.
3 Murray Straus and Richard Gelles, “Societal Change and Change in Family Violence from 1975 to 1985,” Journal of
Marriage and Family
, vol. 48, Iss. 3, August 1986.
4 Ibid.
5 National Institute of Justice, Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, http://www.nij.gov/pubs-sum/
000067.htm.
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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

In their introduction of the Violence Against Women Act, then-Senator Joseph Biden and Senator
Barbara Boxer highlighted the weak legal response to violence against women by police and
prosecutors.6 The shortfalls of legal response and the need for a change in attitudes toward
violence against women were primary reasons cited for the passage of VAWA.7
Since it was enacted in 1994, Congress has twice reauthorized VAWA. The most recent
authorization of appropriations for VAWA programs expired in FY2011. These programs,
however, have continued to receive funding. On February 2, 2012, the Senate Judiciary
Committee favorably reported the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011 (S.
1925).
This report provides a brief legislative history of VAWA and an overview of the crimes addressed
through VAWA. It then discusses two bills that would reauthorize VAWA and selected issues. The
Appendix of this report outlines funding information for VAWA authorized programs from
FY2008 through FY2012.
Violence Against Women Act of 1994
As mentioned, VAWA was originally passed by Congress as part of the broader Violent Crime
Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (1)
enhanced investigations and prosecutions of sex offenses and (2) provided for a number of grant
programs to address the issue of violence against women from a variety of angles including law
enforcement, public and private entities and service providers, and victims of crime. The sections
below highlight examples of these VAWA provisions.
Investigations and Prosecutions
As passed in 1994, VAWA impacted federal investigations and prosecutions of cases involving
violence against women in a number of ways. For instance, it established new offenses and
penalties for the violation of a protection order as well as stalking in which 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. It also added new provisions to
require states and territories to enforce protection orders issued by other states, tribes and
territories. VAWA also allowed for enhanced sentencing of repeat federal sex offenders. It also
authorized funding for the Attorney General to develop training programs to assist probation and
parole officers to work with released sex offenders.
In addition, VAAWA established a new requirement for pretrial detention in federal sex offense or
child pornography felony cases. It also modified the Federal Rules of Evidence to include new
procedures specifying that, with few exceptions, a victim’s past sexual behavior was not
admissible in federal and civil cases of sexual misconduct.8 In addition, VAWA asked the

6 Senators Biden and Boxer, “Violence Against Women,” Remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record, June 21,
1994.
7 Joseph Biden, “Violence Against Women: The Congressional Response,” American Psychologist, vol. 48, no. 10
(October 1993), pp. 1059-1061; Barbara Vobejda, “Battered Women’s Cry Relayed Up From Grass Roots,” The
Washington Post
, July 6, 1994, p. A1.
8 Fed. R. Evid. 412.
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Attorney General to study measures in place to ensure confidentiality between sexual assault or
domestic violence victims and their counselors.
VAWA mandated restitution to victims of specified federal sex offenses, specifically sexual abuse
as well as sexual exploitation and other abuse of children. It also established new provisions,
including a civil remedy that allows victims of sexual assault to seek civil penalties from their
alleged assailants,9 and a provision that allows rape victims to demand that their alleged assailants
be tested for the HIV virus.
Grant Programs
VAWA created a number of grant programs and authorized funding for the programs for a range
of activities including violence prevention, investigations and prosecutions, and victim services.
Violence Prevention
For instance, under VAWA, grants were authorized for capital improvements to prevent crime in
public transportation systems as well as in public and national parks. It also expanded the Family
Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA)10 to include grants for youth education on
domestic violence and intimate partner violence as well as to include grants for community
intervention and prevention programs.
Investigations and Prosecutions
As mentioned, VAWA provided for federal grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement
entities to investigate and prosecute violent crimes against women. It established an additional
grant to bolster investigations and prosecutions in rural areas. It also established a grant program
to encourage state, local, and tribal arrest policies in domestic violence cases.
VAWA authorized grants for education and training for judges and court personnel in state and
federal courts on the laws of rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, and other crimes of violence
motivated by the victim’s gender. It also authorized grants to assist state and local governments
enter data on stalking and domestic violence into national databases.
Victim Services
VAWA authorized the expansion of the Public Health Service Act11 to include purpose areas for
rape prevention education. Additionally, it expanded the purpose areas of the Runaway and
Homeless Youth Act12 to allow for grant funding to assist youth at risk of (or have been subjected
to) sexual abuse. VAWA reauthorized the Court-Appointed Special Advocate Program and the

9 In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a provision of VAWA that allowed for a civil remedy for victims of
gender-based violence. For more information, see U.S. v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 598 (2000).
10 42 U.S.C. §10401 et seq.
11 42 U.S.C. §280b et seq.
12 42 U.S.C. §5711 et seq.
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Child Abuse Training Programs for Judicial Personnel and Practitioners. It also authorized
funding for Grants for Televised Testimony by Victims of Child Abuse.
VAWA established the National Domestic Violence Hotline and authorized funding for its
operation.13 It also authorized funding for battered women’s shelters. VAWA also included special
protections for battered immigrant women and children.14
Other VAWA Requirements
Beyond the criminal justice improvements and grant programs, VAWA included provisions for
several other activities including
• requiring that the U.S. Postal Service take measures to ensure confidentiality of
domestic violence shelters and abused persons’ addresses;
• mandating federal research by the Attorney General, National Academy of
Sciences, and Secretary of Health and Human Services to increase the
government’s understanding of violence against women; and
• requesting special studies on campus sexual assault and battered women’s
syndrome.
Office on Violence Against Women
In 1995, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) was administratively created within DOJ
to administer the grants authorized under VAWA.15 Since its creation, the OVW has awarded
more than $4.7 billion in grants and cooperative agreements to state, tribal, and local
governments, nonprofit organizations, and universities.16 While the OVW administers the
majority of VAWA authorized grants, other federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), also manage VAWA
funds. See Table A-1 for an outline of current VAWA authorized grant programs.
Categories of Crime Addressed through VAWA
VAWA grant programs address the needs of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating
violence, and stalking. VAWA treats these as distinct crimes which involve a wide range of victim
demographics. For domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, the risk of victimization is
highest for women.17 For dating violence, the risk of victimization is the same for both men and
women.18

13 The National Domestic Violence Hotline is now authorized by FVPSA (P.L. 111-320) and codified at 42 U.S.C.
§10413.
14 For more information, see CRS Report R42477, Immigration Provisions of the Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA)
, by William A. Kandel.
15 In 2002, OVW was codified through Title IV of the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization
Act (P.L. 107-273).
16 U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, About the Office, http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/
overview.htm.
17 Shannan Catalano, Erica Smith, Howard Snyder, and Michael Rand, U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice
(continued...)
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Victimization data on these crimes are available from two national surveys, the National Crime
Victimization Survey (NCVS) and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System19 and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.20 UCR data
vary from survey data because the UCR describes crimes that were reported to law enforcement
while survey data describe self-reported crimes that were not necessarily reported to law
enforcement. Due to differences in methodology, survey data are not comparable to UCR data.21
Domestic Violence
As discussed, public concern over violence against women prompted the original passage of
VAWA. As such, VAWA legislation and programs have historically emphasized women as
victims. More recently, however, there has been a focus on ensuring the needs of all victims are
met through provisions of VAWA programs.22
Domestic violence is a complex crime and is often labeled as family violence or intimate partner
violence. Under VAWA, domestic violence is generally interpreted as intimate partner violence.
Intimate partner violence includes felony or misdemeanor crimes committed by spouses or ex-
spouses, boyfriends or girlfriends, and ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends. Crimes may include sexual
assault, simple or aggravated assault, and homicide. As defined in statute for the purposes of
VAWA grant programs, domestic violence includes
felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse of the
victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is
cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse, by a person similarly
situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the
jurisdiction receiving grant monies, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim
who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the
jurisdiction.23

(...continued)
Statistics, Female Victims of Violence, September 2009, http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/fvv.pdf (hereinafter
Female Victims of Violence, 2009); and Katrina Baum, Shannan Catalano, and Michael Rand, U.S. Department of
Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Stalking Victimization in the United States, January 2009, http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/
content/pub/pdf/svus.pdf (hereinafter Stalking Victimization in the United States, 2009).
18 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Selected Health Risk Behaviors and Health Outcomes by Sex,
National YRBS: 2009
, http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/pdf/us_disparitysex_yrbs.pdf.
19 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Centers for Disease Control, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance
System (YRBSS)
, http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/; and U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs,
Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=
245.
20 U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reporting Program,
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/ucr.
21 For additional information regarding the differences in crime data collection and limitations of the data, see CRS
Report RL34309, How Crime in the United States Is Measured, by Nathan James and Logan Rishard Council. For a
comparison of methodologies used by the UCR and National Crime Victimization Survey, see The Nation’s Two Crime
Measures
, http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/ntcm.pdf.
22 U.S. Congress, House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security,
Hearing on: the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, Testimony by Susan Carbon, 112th
Cong., 2nd sess., February 16, 2012.
23 42 U.S.C. §13925.
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Data from the NCVS indicate that the rate of intimate partner violence is approximately four
times higher for females than males.24 There were 407,700 females that reported victimization by
an intimate partner (3.1 per 1,000 persons aged 12 and older) in 2010, compared to 101,530 males
(0.8 per 1,000 persons aged 12 and older) who reported victimization by an intimate partner.
According to NCVS data, intimate partner victimization rates also vary by age and race. Females
aged 18 or older generally experience higher rates of intimate partner violence than females aged
12 to 17. Rates of intimate partner violence have also been historically higher for black females
than white females.25
In 2010, a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention included
questions about lifetime victimization. The CDC estimates that 24.3% of women (one in four
women) and 13.8% of men (one in seven men) have experienced severe physical violence26 by an
intimate partner in their lifetime.27
Intimate Partner Homicide
Since peaking in the early 1990s, the violent and property crime rates have declined. Overall
homicide rates and intimate partner homicide rates have also declined. Researchers have studied
the range of social factors that may influence homicide rates and have suggested possible reasons
for the decline in intimate partner homicide rates. For instance, most intimate partner homicides
involve married couples; as such, some researchers have suggested the decline in marriage rates
among young adults as a contributing factor in the decline in intimate partner homicide rates.28
Additionally, divorce and separation rates have increased. Fewer marriages may result in less
exposure to abusive partners and fewer marriages may suggest that those who do marry are more
selective in choosing a partner.29
Homicide is committed largely by males, mostly victimizing males. From 1980 through 2008,
males made up 90% of all offenders and 77% of all homicide victims; however, females were
more likely than males to be victims of intimate partner homicide.30 From 1980 through 2008,
female homicide victims were six times more likely than male victims to have been a victim of
intimate partner homicide, and 63% of all intimate partner homicide victims were female.31

24 U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Criminal Victimization, 2010, p.10, http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/
content/pub/pdf/cv10.pdf.
25 Ibid, p. 2.
26 The CDC provided the following examples of severe physical violence: “hit with a fist or something hard, beaten,
[or] slammed against something.”
27 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Intimate Partner Sexual Violence Survey, 2010 Summary
Report
, November 2011, p. 2, http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/NISVS_Executive_Summary-a.pdf
(hereinafter National Intimate Partner Sexual Violence Survey, 2010).
28 Laura Dugan, Daniel Nagin, and Richard Rosenfeld, Do Domestic Violence Services Save Lives?, National Institute
of Justice Journal
, Issue 250 (November 2003), p. 22, https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/jr000250f.pdf.
29 Ibid.
30 Margaret Zahn, Intimate Partner Homicide: An Overview, National Institute of Justice Journal, Issue 250
(November 2003), p. 2; and Bureau of Justice Statistics, Homicide Trends in the United States, 1980-2008, November
2011, pp. 3, 18, http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/htus8008.pdf (hereinafter Homicide Trends in the United
States
).
31 Homicide Trends in the United States, p. 10.
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Sexual Assault
While intimate partner violence can, and often does, include sexual assault,32 it is viewed as a
separate category of crime under VAWA. Sexual assault may include the crimes of forcible rape,
attempted forcible rape, assault with intent to rape, statutory rape, and other sexual offenses.
Sexual assault is not defined in the U.S. Code, but other associated crimes, such as sexual abuse
and aggravated sexual abuse, are defined in the U.S. Code.33 Under VAWA, sexual assault
includes any conduct that may be described as sexual abuse or aggravated sexual abuse.
According to statistics from the NCVS, there were 184,390 sexual assaults in 2010.34 These data
are not comprehensive because some victimizations are not reported to law enforcement.
Moreover, these data are not comparable to UCR data because the NCVS includes male victims
in its definition of sexual assault, and UCR statistics from 2010 do not include male victims.
According to the FBI’s UCR Program, 84,767 forcible rapes were reported to law enforcement in
2010. Since 1991, when 106,593 forcible rapes were reported to law enforcement, this figure has
fluctuated but has declined overall, as illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Forcible Rapes Known to Police
(1991–2010)

Source: CRS presentation of UCR data. These data are available at http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-
u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10tbl01.xls.
Note: These data include only female victims; from 1991-2010 the FBI definition of rape did not include male victims.

32 Female Victims of Violence, 2009. p. 2.
33 42 U.S.C. §13925; 18 U.S.C. §2241 et seq.
34 U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Criminal Victimization, 2010, September 2011, p. 9,
http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv10.pdf.
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Through 2010, the FBI defined forcible rape as, “the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and
against her will.”35 Forcible rape statistics include attempted forcible rape and assault with intent
to rape, but exclude statutory rape without force and other sex offenses.36 In January 2012, the
FBI revised its definition of forcible rape to include male victims.37 Future UCR reports will
include rape statistics for male victims.
Dating Violence
Under VAWA, dating violence refers to “violence committed by a person who is or has been in a
social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim.”38 The relationship between
the offender and victim is determined based on the following factors: (1) the length of the
relationship; (2) the type of relationship; and (3) the frequency of interaction between the persons
involved in the relationship.39
Reports on dating violence usually refer to teenagers as the relevant age demographic. According
to the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, approximately 10% of high school students had been
“hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend” in the past year.40
Unlike other crimes addressed by VAWA, females were just as likely as males to report this
outcome.41
Stalking
Stalking is defined as “a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a
reasonable person to feel fear.”42 All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories have
enacted anti-stalking laws, and these laws vary in their definition.43 Federal law makes it unlawful
to (1) travel across state lines or use the mail or computer; (2) with the intent to injure or harass
another; and (3) as a result, places that person in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury
or causes substantial emotional distress to that person or a member of that person’s family.44
According to the NCVS, 3.4 million individuals aged 18 and older were victims of stalking in
2006. 45 Females were at greater risk than males for stalking victimization, and individuals aged

35 U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime in the United States, 2010, September 2011, p.1,
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/violent-crime/rapemain.pdf.
36 Ibid.
37 U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, Attorney General Eric Holder Announces Revisions to the
Uniform Crime Report’s Definition of Rape
, http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/January/12-ag-018.html.
38 42 U.S.C. §13925.
39 Ibid.
40 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Selected Health Risk Behaviors and Health Outcomes by Sex
National YRBS: 2009
, http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/pdf/us_disparitysex_yrbs.pdf.
41 Ibid.
42 Stalking Victimization in the United States, 2009, p. 1.
43 Ibid.
44 18 U.S.C. §2261(A).
45 In 2006, the NCVS included a supplemental survey that identified victims of stalking.
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18-24 were at greater risk than those individuals aged 25 or older.46 According to the CDC, 10.7%
of women and 2.1% of men have been stalked by an intimate partner in their lifetime.47
Reauthorizations of VAWA
Since it was enacted in 1994, Congress has twice reauthorized VAWA. Of note, both
reauthorizations had broad bipartisan support.48
• In 2000, Congress reauthorized VAWA through the Victims of Trafficking and
Violence Protection Act (P.L. 106-386). Modifications included additional
protections for battered immigrants,49 a new program for victims in need of
transitional housing, a requirement for grant recipients to submit reports on the
effectiveness of programs, new programs designed to protect elderly and disabled
women, mandatory funds to be used exclusively for rape prevention and
education programs, and inclusion of victims of dating violence.50 VAWA 2000
amended interstate stalking and domestic violence law to include (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) a 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; and (4)
a person who uses 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 to themselves or their immediate family or intimate partner.51 Also, the act
added the intimate partners of victims as people covered under the interstate
stalking statute.
• In 2005, Congress reauthorized VAWA through the Violence Against Women and
Department of Justice Reauthorization Act (P.L. 109-162).52 The legislation
added protections for battered and trafficked immigrants,53 enhanced penalties for
repeat stalking offenders, added programs for American Indian victims, sexual

46 Stalking Victimization in the United States, 2009, pp. 2-3.
47 National Intimate Partner Sexual Violence Survey, 2010, p. 2.
48 In 2000, the House passed the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386) with a
371-1 vote and the Senate unanimously passed the bill. In 2005, the House passed the Violence Against Women and
Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-162) with a 415-4 vote, and the Senate again
unanimously passed the bill.
49 For more information, see CRS Report R42477, Immigration Provisions of the Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA)
, by William A. Kandel.
50 The term “dating violence” was not used in the original VAWA and was added in VAWA 2000.
51 18 U.S.C. §2261 and §2262.
52 Provisions in VAWA 2005 were modified in A Bill to Make Technical Corrections to the Violence Against Women
and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-271).
53 For more information, see CRS Report R42477, Immigration Provisions of the Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA)
, by William A. Kandel.
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assault victims and programs designed to improve the public health response to
domestic violence. The act emphasized collaboration among law enforcement,
health and housing professionals, and women, men, and youth alliances, and
encourages community initiatives to address these issues.
Reauthorization of VAWA and the 112th Congress
Two bills have been introduced in the 112th Congress that would reauthorize appropriations for
programs under VAWA. On November 30, 2011, Senator Leahy introduced the Violence Against
Women Reauthorization Act of 2011 (S. 1925). On February 2, 2012, the Senate Judiciary
Committee ordered favorably reported S. 1925, and on March 12, 2012, the Committee filed a
written report (S.Rept. 112-153) to accompany the bill. On March 27, 2012, Representative
Moore introduced the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012 (H.R. 4271). The
bill was referred to the House Committees on the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, Education
and the Workforce, Financial Services, and Natural Resources. Both the Senate and House
bills would
• reauthorize VAWA grant programs;
• consolidate VAWA grant programs that support families in the justice system and
strengthen the healthcare system’s response to domestic violence, dating
violence, and stalking;
• reduce the annual authorization level for VAWA by more than $135 million;54
• require the OVW to establish a biennial conferral process with grantees and key
stakeholders;55
• include victims of dating violence and stalking in the Transitional Housing
Assistance Grant Program;
• promote additional housing rights for victims of domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including a provision that states that an
applicant may not be denied public housing on the basis that the person has been
a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking;
• expand provisions for battered immigrants including an increase in the cap on the
number of U-Visas available for immigrants;56
• set age parameters for the definition of “youth;”
• redefine “underserved populations” to include those who may be discriminated
against based on sexual orientation or gender identity;57

54 The authorization levels for each existing VAWA grant program will either decrease or remain the same.
55 The areas of conferral will include (1) the administration of grants, (2) unmet needs. (3) promising practices in the
field, and (4) emerging trends. After the conferral with grantees, OVW must publish a comprehensive report that
summarizes the issues presented and what, if any, policies it intends to implement to address those issues.
56 For additional information, see CRS Report R42477, Immigration Provisions of the Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA)
, by William A. Kandel.
57 42 U.S.C. §13925 defines underserved populations as “populations underserved because of geographic location,
underserved racial and ethnic populations, populations underserved because of special needs (such as language barriers,
(continued...)
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• redefine “linguistically and culturally specific services” by removing
“linguistically” from the term, and changing the definition to address the needs of
culturally specific communities rather than underserved communities;
• add the terms “population specific services” and “population specific
organizations” so as to include these services and organizations as eligible
entities under VAWA; 58
• establish a uniform nondiscrimination provision for all VAWA grant programs to
ensure that victims are not denied services on the basis of race, color, religion,
national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability;
• expand the purpose areas of several VAWA grants to address the needs of sexual
assault survivors to include strengthening law enforcement and forensic response
and urging jurisdictions to evaluate and reduce rape kit backlogs;
• establish a new requirement that at least 20 percent of funds within the STOP
(Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Program and 25 percent of funds
within the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforce Protection Orders
Program be directed to programs that meaningfully address sexual assault;
• establish new mandatory grant guidelines for campuses and universities in their
incident response procedures and development of programs to prevent domestic
violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence;
• expand the definition of cyberstalking to include use of “any electronic
communication device or electronic communication system of interstate
commerce;”
• amend rules for sexual acts in federal custodial facilities by adding “the
commission of a sexual act” as grounds for civil action by a federal prisoner and
mandating that detention facilities operated by the Department of Homeland
Security and custodial facilities operated by the Department of Health and
Human Services adopt national standards set forth through the Prison Rape
Elimination Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-79);
• enhance criminal penalties for criminal and civil rights violations involving
sexual abuse; and
• expand the purpose areas of grants for American Indian tribal governments and
coalitions to raise awareness of and response to domestic violence to include
identifying and providing technical assistance to enhance access to services for
Indian women victims of domestic and sex violence, including sex trafficking.

(...continued)
disabilities, alienage status, or age), and any other population determined to be underserved by the Attorney General or
by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as appropriate.”
58 S. 1925 and H.R. 4271 define a population specific organization as a “nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that
primarily serves members of a specific underserved population and has demonstrated experience and expertise
providing targeted services to members of that specific underserved population.”
Both S. 1925 and H.R. 4271 define population specific services as “victim-centered services that address the safety,
health, economic, legal, housing, workplace, immigration, confidentiality, or other needs of victims of domestic
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and that are designed primarily for and are targeted to a specific
underserved population.”
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The bills would also address jurisdictional issues on tribal lands. They would grant American
Indian tribes criminal jurisdiction over domestic violence, dating violence, and violations of
protective orders that occur on tribal lands.59 The bills would also grant tribes civil jurisdiction to
issue and enforce protection orders. Moreover, the bills would add a new grant program to
support tribal efforts to combat domestic violence.
In contrast to H.R. 4271, S. 1925 would also
• amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to include a third drunk driving
offense as an aggravated felony for the purposes of removing a noncitizen from
the United States;60 and
• amend federal law to include a mandatory minimum sentence for aggravated
sexual abuse.61
Other than these differences, the bills are relatively similar.
Selected Issues in the Reauthorization of VAWA in
the 112th Congress

The reauthorization of VAWA (S. 1925) has been met with some opposition in the Senate. Several
concerns were raised in the Senate Judiciary Committee Report (S.Rept. 112-153) and during the
Executive Business Meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee, including
• the proposed increase to the cap on the number of U-Visas available for
immigrants;62
• the proposed addition to the number of groups given special consideration as
underserved populations;
• the proposed increase of jurisdictional power for American Indian tribes; and
• the accountability of OVW grantees.
Both reauthorization bills propose to increase the cap on the number of U-Visas available for
battered immigrants.63 U-Visas grant nonimmigrant status to immigrants who are victims of

59 Tribes do not currently have criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians (Oliphant v. Suquamish Indian Tribe, 435 U.S.
(191, 210 1978). S. 1925 and H.R. 4271 would expand tribal courts’ criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians for crimes
of domestic violence. For additional information, see CRS Report R42488, Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction over Non-
Indians in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization and the SAVE Native Women Act
, by Jane M.
Smith and Richard M. Thompson II.
60 8 U.S.C. §1101(a)(43)(F).
61 18 U.S.C. §2241(a).
62 Both reauthorization bills seek to amend this provision as codified in 8 U.S.C. §1184(p)(2).
63 The legislation proposes to recapture unused visas that were available and not issued to immigrants from 2006 –
2011. For additional information regarding U-Visas and VAWA provisions related to immigrant status, see For
additional information, see CRS Report R42477, Immigration Provisions of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA),
by William A. Kandel.
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domestic violence and are willing to assist authorities in the investigation and prosecution of their
attackers.64 Some Members have voiced concern over the expansion of immigration laws.65
An additional issue raised in opposition to S. 1925 is the proposal to add persons who may be
discriminated against based on sexual orientation or gender identity as an “underserved
population” under VAWA. Critics contend that more data are needed to verify groups as
underserved. They also contend that VAWA will have too many groups for special consideration
and will lose its focus on overall victim assistance.66
Both reauthorization bills propose to increase jurisdictional power for American Indian tribes, and
this has been an issue cited in opposition to S. 1925.67 Tribes do not currently have criminal
jurisdiction over non-American Indians. The proposed legislation seeks to grant criminal
jurisdiction over non-American Indians in cases of domestic violence. Concerns have been raised
over this change because (1) it would represent an unprecedented expansion of tribal jurisdiction;
and (2) defendants may not receive the full panoply of Constitutional protections.68
Another issue raised in opposition to S. 1925 was the lack of accountability for VAWA grantees.69
Over the last few years, the DOJ Office of the Inspector General has audited several OVW
grantees. The audit reports have cited improper allocation of funds, untimely financial and
progress reports, weaknesses in budget management, and other compliance issues.70 While both
reauthorization bills would require the OVW to establish a biennial conferral process with
grantees and key stakeholders, a concern has been raised that the proposed legislation do not
adequately ensure accountability of grant recipients.71

64 8 U.S.C. §1101(a)(15).
65 S.Rept. 112-153.
66 U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Executive Business Meeting, 112th Cong., 2nd sess., February 2,
2012.
67 S.Rept. 112-153
68 Although tribes are not bound by protections found in the U.S. Constitution (Talton v. Mayes, 163 U.S. 376 (1896)),
there are similar statutory protections for criminal defendants in tribal courts. See 25 U.S.C. §1302(6). For additional
information, see CRS Report R42488, Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction over Non-Indians in the Violence Against Women
Act (VAWA) Reauthorization and the SAVE Native Women Act
, by Jane M. Smith and Richard M. Thompson II.
69 S.Rept. 112-153
70 U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Audit of the Office on Violence Against Women
Cooperative Agreement Administered by Girls Educational and Mentoring Services: New York, New York, GR-70-12-
003, March 2012, http://www.justice.gov/oig/grants/2012/g7012003.pdf; Audit of the Office on Violence Against
Women Grants to Jane Doe, Inc.: Boston, Massachusetts, GR-70-11-005, August 2011, http://www.justice.gov/oig/
grants/2011/g7011005r.pdf; Audit of Office on Violence Against Women Grants Awarded to the Montana Coalition
Against Domestic and Sexual Violence: Helena, Montana, GR-60-11-001, October 2010, http://www.justice.gov/oig/
grants/2010/g6011001.pdf; Office on Violence Against Women Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecution Grants
Awarded to the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, GR-30-10-003, July 2010,
http://www.justice.gov/oig/grants/2010/g3010003.pdf; and Office on Violence Against Women Legal Assistance for
Victims Grant Program Administered by the Community Legal Aid Society, Inc.: Wilmington, Delaware, GR-70-10-
005, July 2010.
71 S.Rept. 112-153.
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Appendix. Federal Programs Authorized by VAWA
The fundamental goals of VAWA are to prevent violent crime, respond to the needs of crime victims, learn more about violence against women,
and change public attitudes about domestic violence. This comprehensive strategy involves a collaborative effort by the criminal justice system,
social service agencies, research organizations, public health organizations, and various private organizations. VAWA has supported these efforts
primarily through federal grant programs that provide funding to state, tribal, and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and universities.
Table A-1 provides descriptions of VAWA programs. Table A-2 provides a five-year funding history for these programs.

Table A-1. Descriptions of Current VAWA Authorized Programs under the Department of Justice (DOJ)
and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Program and U.S. Code Citation (by
Administrative Agency)

Purposes and Goals
Organizations Eligible to Apply
Office on Violence Against Women (DOJ)


STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors)
The purpose of this formula grant program is to enhance States and territories.a
Grant Program (42 U.S.C. §3796gg and 28 C.F.R. §90)
advocacy and improve the criminal justice system’s
response to violent crimes against women.
Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of
The purpose of this grant program is to encourage state, States; territories; tribal governments; units of local
Protection Orders (42 U.S.C. §3796hh)
local, and tribal courts and governments to treat
government; and state, tribal, territorial, and local courts
domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual
(including juvenile courts).
assault as serious crimes.
Civil Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program (42
The purpose of this grant program is to strengthen civil
Private, nonprofit organizations; tribal governments and
U.S.C. §3796gg–6)
and criminal legal assistance for victims of sexual assault,
organizations; territorial organizations; and publicly
stalking, domestic violence, and dating violence through
funded organizations not acting in a governmental
innovative and col aborative programs.
capacity (e.g., law schools).
Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program (42
The goals of this grant program are to develop and
Tribal governments; designees of tribal governments.
U.S.C. §3796gg–10)
enhance effective plans for tribal governments to
respond to violence committed against American Indian
women and improve services for these women;
strengthen the tribal criminal justice system; create
community education and prevention campaigns; address
the needs of children who witness domestic violence;
provide supervised visitation and safe exchange
programs; and provide transitional housing assistance
and legal assistance.
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Program and U.S. Code Citation (by
Administrative Agency)

Purposes and Goals
Organizations Eligible to Apply
Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual
The purpose of these grants is to enhance the safety of
States; territories; tribal governments; units of local
Assault, Stalking, and Child Abuse Enforcement
victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual
government; nonprofit, public or private organizations,
Assistance (42 U.S.C. §13971)
assault, and stalking by supporting projects uniquely
including tribal organizations.b
designed to address and prevent these crimes in rural
jurisdictions.
Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of
The purpose of this grant program is to use a holistic,
States; territories; tribal governments; units of local
Domestic Violence (42 U.S.C. §13975)c
victim-centered approach to provide transitional housing government; domestic violence and sexual assault victim
services for victims of domestic violence, dating
service providers; domestic violence and sexual assault
violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and to move them
coalitions; and other nonprofit, nongovernmental
into permanent housing.
organizations, or community-based and culturally specific
organizations.d
Sexual Assault Services Program (42 U.S.C. §14043g and
The purpose of these formula grants is to provide
States; territories; and private, nonprofit organizations
42 U.S.C. §3796gg)
intervention, advocacy, accompaniment, support
that focus primarily on culturally-specific communities.e
services, and related assistance for adult, youth, and
child victims of sexual assault, family and household
members of victims, and those col aterally affected by
the sexual assault.
Consolidated Youth Oriented Programf
This program consolidates four VAWA authorized
OVW has not yet determined organizations eligible for
programs: Engaging Men and Youth in Prevention,
this program.
Grants to Assist Children and Youth Exposed to
Violence, Supporting Teens Through Education Program
(STEP), and Services to Advocate and Respond to
Youth. A new grant description is not yet available from
OVW.
Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Support Program
The purpose of this grant program is to provide an
States; territories; and tribal governments.
(42 U.S.C. §10420)g
opportunity for communities to support the supervised
visitation and safe exchange of children in situations
involving domestic violence, dating violence, child abuse,
sexual assault, or stalking.
Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence,
The purpose of this grant is to encourage institutions of
Institutions of higher education.
Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program (42
higher education to adopt comprehensive, coordinated
U.S.C. §14045b)
responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual
assault, and stalking.
Education, Training and Services to End Violence Against The purpose of this grant program is to build the
States; territories; tribal governments or organizations;
and Abuse of Women with Disabilities (42 U.S.C.
capacity to address the growing problem of domestic
units of local government; nonprofit, nongovernmental
§3796gg–7)
violence, sexual assault, and dating violence against
victim service organizations.h
individuals with disabilities.
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Program and U.S. Code Citation (by
Administrative Agency)

Purposes and Goals
Organizations Eligible to Apply
Court Training and Improvements (42 U.S.C. §14043 et
The purpose of this grant is to improve court responses
Federal, state, tribal, territorial, or local courts or court-
seq.)
to adult and youth domestic violence, dating violence,
based programs; and national, state, tribal, territorial, or
sexual assault, and stalking.
local private, nonprofit organizations with demonstrated
expertise in developing and providing judicial education
about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault,
or stalking.
Enhanced Training and Service to End Violence and
The purpose of this grant program is to provide or
States; territories; tribal governments or organizations;
Abuse of Women Later in Life (42 U.S.C. §14041a)
enhance training and services for victims of elder abuse,
units of local government; nonprofit, nongovernmental
neglect, or exploitation, including victims of domestic
victim service organizations.i
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions
The purpose of this grant program is to increase
Tribal coalitions; and individuals and organizations
Grant (42 U.S.C. §3796gg–1)
awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault
proposing to create tribal coalitions.
against American Indian and Alaska Native women;
enhance the response to violence against women at the
tribal, federal, and state levels; and identify and provide
technical assistance to coalition membership and tribal
communities to enhance access to essential services.
Grant for National Resource Center on Workplace
The purpose of this grant program is to provide for the
Nonprofit organizations; and tribal organizations.
Responses to Assist Victims of Domestic and Sexual
establishment and operation of a national resource
Violence (42 U.S.C. §14043f)
center on workplace responses to assist victims of
domestic and sexual violence.j
Services to Advocate and Respond to Youth (42 U.S.C.
The purpose of this grant program is to fund projects
Nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations; community-
§14043c)
that create and implement programs and services to
based organizations; tribes; and tribal organizations.k
respond to the needs of youth who are victims of
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or
stalking.
Children and Youth Exposed to Violence (42 U.S.C.
The purpose of this grant program is to mitigate the
States; territories; tribal governments; units of local
§14043d–2)
effects of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual
government; nonprofit, victim service organizations;
assault, and stalking on children and youth exposed to
community-based organizations; and tribal organizations.l
violence and reduce the risk of future victimization or
perpetration of these crimes.
Engaging Men and Youth in Preventing Domestic
The purpose of this grant program is to fund projects
States; territories; tribal governments; units of local
Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking
that develop or enhance efforts to engage men in
government; nonprofit, nongovernmental domestic
(42 U.S.C. §14043d–4)
preventing crimes of domestic violence, dating violence,
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking
sexual assault and stalking with the goal of developing
victim service providers or coalitions; community-based
mutually respectful, nonviolent relationships.
child or youth service organizations.m
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Program and U.S. Code Citation (by
Administrative Agency)

Purposes and Goals
Organizations Eligible to Apply
Supporting Teens through Education and Protection
The purpose of this grant program is to support projects State, local, tribal, and territorial courts; public, private,
(STEP) (42 U.S.C. §14043c–3)
that provide training to school personnel; develop
and military high schools and middle schools.n
policies and procedures for response; provide support
services; develop effective prevention strategies; and
col aborate with mentoring organizations to support
middle and high school students who are victims of
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or
stalking.
Office of Justice Programs (DOJ)


Court Appointed Special Advocates for Victims of Child
The purpose of this grant program is to provide trained
National organizations.q
Abuse (42 U.S.C. §13013 et seq.)o
individuals who are appointed by judges to advocate for
the best interest of children who are involved in the
juvenile and family court system due to abuse or
neglect.p
Training Programs to Assist Probation and Parole
The purpose of this program is to establish criteria and
NA
Officers (42 U.S.C. §13941)
develop training programs to assist probation and parole
officers and other personnel who work with released
sex offenders in the areas of case management,
supervision, and relapse prevention.
Violence Against Women and Family Research and
The purpose of this research program is to promote the
NA
Evaluation Program (NIJ)r
safety of women and family members, and to increase
the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice
system’s response to these crimes.
Research on Violence Against Indian Women, National
The purpose of this program is to examine violence
NA
Baseline Study (NIJ) (42 U.S.C. §3796gg–10 Note)
against American Indian and Alaska Native women and
identify factors that place this population at risk for
victimization; evaluate the effectiveness of federal, state,
tribal, and local responses to violence against American
Indian and Alaska Native women; and propose
recommendations to improve effectiveness of these
responses.
National Stalker and Domestic Violence Reduction (42
The purpose of this program is to improve processes for States; and units of local government.s
U.S.C. §14031 et seq.)
entering data on stalking and domestic violence into
local, state, and national crime information databases.
Tracking of Violence Against Women: National Tribal
The purpose of this program is to develop and maintain
Tribal governments; and tribal organizations.
Sex Offender Registry (28 U.S.C. §534 Note)
a national tribal sex offender registry.
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Program and U.S. Code Citation (by
Administrative Agency)

Purposes and Goals
Organizations Eligible to Apply
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


(HHS)
Rape Prevention and Education Grant Program (42
The purpose of this program is to is to strengthen
States and territories.
U.S.C. §280b–1b)
sexual violence prevention efforts in the states and
territories. The goal is to increase awareness about
sexual violence through educational seminars, hotline
operations, and development of informational materials.
Sources: Descriptions of grant programs’ purposes and goals are taken from statute; the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), available at
http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/ovwgrantprograms.htm#11; National Institute of Justice, available at http://www.nij.gov/topics/crime/violence-against-women/welcome.htm;
National Resource Center on Workplace Responses, available at http://www.workplacesrespond.org; and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), available
at http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/RPE/. The organizations eligible to apply for grants are taken from the relevant statute and the OVW Fiscal Year 2011 Grant
Program Solicitation Reference Guide
, available at http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/docs/resource-guidebook.pdf and from the RPE Grant Program description available at
http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/RPE/.
Notes: Programs in this table represent current programs that were authorized by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005
(VAWA 2005, P.L. 109-162) and A Bill to Make Technical Corrections to the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-
271). Programs that did not receive appropriations in FY2010-FY2012 are not included in this table. Programs that are funded by set-asides from VAWA authorized
programs are reflected in this table. See Table A-2 for an outline of all programs authorized by VAWA 2005.
a. Indian tribal governments, units of local government, and nonprofit, nongovernmental victim service programs may receive sub-grants from states.
b. All applicants must propose to serve a rural area, as defined in statute.
c. This program was originally authorized by the Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today (PROTECT) Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-
21), and was reauthorized by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005.
d. These organizations must have a documented history of effective work concerning domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to carry out programs
to provide assistance to minors, adults, and their dependents who are homeless, or in need of transitional housing or other housing assistance, as a result of fleeing a
situation of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and for whom emergency shelter services or other crisis intervention services are unavailable
or insufficient.
e. These organizations must (1) have documented organizational experience in the area of sexual assault intervention or have entered into a partnership with an
organization having such expertise; (2) have expertise in the development of community-based, linguistically and culturally specific outreach and intervention services
relevant for the specific communities to whom assistance would be provided or have the capacity to link to existing services in the community tailored to the needs of
culturally specific populations; and (3) have an advisory board or steering committee and staffing which is reflective of the targeted culturally specific community.
f.
The Consolidated Youth Oriented Program is not defined in statute. This program consolidates four VAWA-authorized programs in the Office on Violence Against
Women: Engaging Men and Youth in Prevention, Grants to Assist Children and Youth Exposed to Violence, Supporting Teens Through Education Program (STEP), and
Services to Advocate and Respond to Youth.
g. This program was original y authorized by the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386). It was modified and reauthorized by the
Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2005.
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h. Examples of organizations include state domestic violence or sexual assault coalitions and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that serve disabled individuals.
i.
These organizations must have demonstrated experience in assisting elderly women or demonstrated experience in addressing domestic violence, dating violence,
sexual assault, and stalking.
j.
This grant currently funds The Workplaces Respond to Domestic and Sexual Violence: A National Resource Center Project. This project offers information to those
interested in providing effective workplace responses to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence and stalking.
k. Nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations must either (1) have the primary purpose of providing services to teen and young adult victims of domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, or stalking or (2) provide services for runaway or homeless youth affected by domestic or sexual abuse. Tribes and tribal organizations must
provide services primarily to tribal youth or tribal victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking.
l.
A state, local, or tribal government is only eligible if it is partnered with an eligible organization. Eligible organizations must have a documented history of effective
work concerning children or youth exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including programs that provide culturally specific
services, Head Start, childcare, faith-based organizations, after school programs, and health and mental health providers.
m. A state, local, or tribal government is only eligible if it is partnered with an eligible organization or a program that provides culturally specific services. Community-
based organizations must have demonstrated experience and expertise in addressing the needs and concerns of young people. Organizations eligible to create public
education campaigns and community organizing must have a documented history of creating and administering effective public education campaigns addressing the
prevention of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking.
n. Schools are only eligible if they are partnered with (1) a domestic violence victim service provider that has a history of working on domestic violence and the impact
that domestic violence and dating violence have on children and youth; and (2) a sexual assault victim service provider, such as a rape crisis center, program serving
tribal victims of sexual assault, or coalition or other nonprofit, nongovernmental organization carrying out a community-based sexual assault program, that has a
history of effective work concerning sexual assault and the impact that sexual assault has on children and youth. Schools may also partner with a law enforcement
agency, courts, organizations and service providers addressing sexual harassment, bul ying or gang-related violence in schools, and any other such agencies or
organizations with the capacity to provide effective assistance to the adult, youth, and minor victims served by the partnership.
o. This program was original y authorized by the Victims of Child Abuse Act (P.L. 101-647). In 1994, 2000, and 2005, VAWA has reauthorized funding for this program.
p. The National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program has received this award each year and makes sub-grants, on a competitive base, to local CASA
programs. The CASA Program also provides training and technical assistance. For additional information, see http://www.casaforchildren.org.
q. National organizations must that have broad membership among court-appointed special advocates, and must have demonstrated experience in grant administration of
court-appointed special advocate programs and in providing training and technical assistance to court-appointed special advocate program. The organization may be
may be a local public or nonprofit agency that has demonstrated the willingness to initiate, sustain, and expand a court-appointed special advocate program.
r. This program is not authorized by Congress. It is included in this table because it is funded by a set-aside from the STOP Program.
s. States and local units of government must certify that it has or intends to establish a program that enters into the National Crime Information Center records of
warrants, arrests, convictions and protection orders.
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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Table A-2. FY2008-FY2012 Authorization and Appropriations for VAWA Programs
(dollars in millions)
Grant
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012
Programs and
U.S. Code
Citation (by
Administrative
Agency)
Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted
Office on










Violence
Against
Women (DOJ)

STOP (Services,
$225.00 $183.80 $225.00 $365.00ab $225.00 $210.00c $225.00 $209.58d — $189.00
Training, Officers,
and Prosecutors)
Grant Program
(42 U.S.C.
§3793(a)(18))
Grants to
75.00 59.22 75.00 60.00 75.00 60.00 75.00 59.88 — 50.00
Encourage Arrest
Policies and
Enforcement of
Protection
Orders (42 U.S.C.
§3793(a)(19))
Civil Legal
65.00 36.66 65.00 37.00 65.00 41.00 65.00 40.92 — 41.00
Assistance for
Victims Grant
Program (42
U.S.C. §3796gg–6)
Tribal
e — e — e (38.97) e (37.40) e (35.27)
Governments
Program (42
U.S.C. §3796gg–
10 and 42 U.S.C.
§3796gg–1)
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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Grant
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012
Programs and
U.S. Code
Citation (by
Administrative
Agency) Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted
Rural Domestic
55.00 40.42 55.00 41.00 55.00 41.00 55.00 40.92 — 34.00
Violence, Dating
Violence, Sexual
Assault, Stalking,
and Child Abuse
Enforcement
Assistance (42
U.S.C. §13971)
Transitional
40.00 (17.39)g 40.00 (18.00)g 40.00 (18.00)g 40.00 (17.96)g — 25.00
Housing
Assistance Grants
for Victims of
Domestic
Violence (42
U.S.C. §13975)f
Sexual Assault
50.00 9.40 50.00 12.00 50.00 15.00 50.00 14.97 — 23.00
Services Program
(42 U.S.C.
§14043g)
Consolidated
h — h — h — h — h 14.00
Youth Oriented
Programh
Safe Havens:
20.00 13.63 20.00 14.00 20.00 14.00 20.00 13.97 — 11.50
Supervised
Visitation and
Support Program
(42 U.S.C.
§10420)i
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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Grant
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012
Programs and
U.S. Code
Citation (by
Administrative
Agency) Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted
Grants to Reduce
15.00 9.40 15.00 9.50 15.00 9.50 15.00 9.48 — 9.00
Domestic
Violence, Dating
Violence, Sexual
Assault, and
Stalking on
Campus Program
(42 U.S.C.
§14045b)
Education,
10.00 6.58 10.00 6.75 10.00 6.75 10.00 6.74 — 5.75
Training and
Services to End
Violence Against
and Abuse of
Women with
Disabilities (42
U.S.C. §3796gg–7)
Court Training
5.00 2.80 5.00 3.00 5.00 3.00 5.00 2.99 — 4.50
and
Improvements
Program (42
U.S.C. §14043a-3)
Enhanced
10.00 4.23 10.00 4.25 10.00 4.25 10.00 4.24 — 4.25
Training and
Service to End
Violence and
Abuse of Women
Later in Life
Program (42
U.S.C. §14041b)
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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Grant
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012
Programs and
U.S. Code
Citation (by
Administrative
Agency) Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted
Tribal Domestic
j — j — j (3.93)k
j (3.92)k — (3.93)k
Violence and
Sexual Assault
Coalitions Grant
Program (42
U.S.C. §3796gg–1)
Grant for
1.00 0.90 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 — 1.00
National
Resource Center
on Workplace
Responses to
Assist Victims of
Domestic and
Sexual Violence
(42 U.S.C.
§14043f)
Services to
15.00 2.82 15.00 3.50 15.00 3.50 15.00 3.49 —
l
Advocate and
Respond to
Youth (42 U.S.C.
§14043c)
Children and
20.00 2.82 20.00 3.00 20.00 3.00 20.00 3.00 —
l
Youth Exposed to
Violence (42
U.S.C. §14043d-2)
Engaging Men and
10.00 2.82 10.00 3.00 10.00 3.00 10.00 2.99 —
l
Youth in
Preventing
Domestic
Violence, Dating
Violence, Sexual
Assault, and
Stalking (42
U.S.C. §14043d-4)
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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Grant
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012
Programs and
U.S. Code
Citation (by
Administrative
Agency) Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted
Supporting Teens
5.00 — 5.00 — 5.00 2.50 5.00 2.50 —
l
through
Education and
Protection (STEP)
(42 U.S.C.
§14043c–3)
Grants to
10.00 — 10.00 — 10.00 — 10.00 — — —
Combat Violence
Against Women
in Public and
Assisted Housing
(42 U.S.C.
§14043e–4)
Development of
7.00 — 7.00 — 7.00 — 7.00 — — —
Curricula and
Pilot Programs
for Home
Visitation Projects
(42 U.S.C.
§14043d–3)
Access to Justice
5.00 — 5.00 — 5.00 — 5.00 — — —
for Youth (42
U.S.C. §14043c-1)
Grants to Protect
5.00 — 5.00 — 5.00 — 5.00 — — —
the Privacy and
Confidentiality of
Victims of
Domestic and
Dating Violence,
Sexual Assault,
and Stalking (42
U.S.C. §14043b-4)
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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Grant
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012
Programs and
U.S. Code
Citation (by
Administrative
Agency) Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted
Grants for
2.00 — 2.00 — 2.00 — 2.00 — — —
Outreach to
Underserved
Populations (42
U.S.C. §14045)
Public Awareness
m — m — m — — — — —
Campaign (42
U.S.C. §14045c)
Office of Justice










Programs
(DOJ)

Court Appointed
12.00 13.16 12.00 15.00 12.00 15.00 12.00 12.43 — 4.50
Special Advocates
for Victims of
Child Abuse (42
U.S.C. §13014)
Violence Against
n (1.90) n (1.88) n (3.00) n (3.00) — (3.00)
Women and
Family Research
and Evaluation
Program (NIJ)n
Research on
1.00 0.90 — 1.00 — 1.00 — 0.80 — —
Violence Against
Indian Women,
National Baseline
Study (NIJ) (42
U.S.C. §3796gg–
10 Note)
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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Grant
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012
Programs and
U.S. Code
Citation (by
Administrative
Agency) Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted
Training
5.00 3.29 5.00 3.50 5.00 3.50 5.00 2.90 — —
Programs to
Assist Probation
and Parole
Officers (42
U.S.C. §13941)
National Stalker
3.00 2.80 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 2.49 — —
and Domestic
Violence
Reduction (42
U.S.C. §14032)
Tracking of
1.00 0.90 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 — —
Violence Against
Women: National
Tribal Sex
Offender Registry
(28 U.S.C. §534
Note)
Executive










Office of U.S.
Attorneys
(DOJ)

Federal Victim
1.00 — 1.00 — 1.00 — 1.00 — — —
Assistantso
Undetermined










Agency (DOJ)p
Grants for Law
10.00 — 10.00 — 10.00 — 10.00 — — —
Enforcement
Training (42
U.S.C. 14044f)
Subtotal for DOJ: 683.00 396.55 682.00 586.50 682.00 441.00 682.00 436.29 — 402.50
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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Grant
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012
Programs and
U.S. Code
Citation (by
Administrative
Agency) Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted
Centers for










Disease
Control and
Prevention
(HHS)

Rape Prevention
80.00 42.02 80.00 41.84 80.00 42.62 80.00 39.47 — 37.90
and Education
Grants (42 U.S.C.
§280b–1b)
Grants to Foster
5.00 — 5.00 — 5.00 — 5.00 — — —
Public Health
Responses to
Domestic
Violence, Dating
Violence, Sexual
Assault, and
Stalking (42
U.S.C. §280g–4)q
Research on
5.00 — 5.00 — 5.00 — 5.00 — — —
Effective
Interventions in
the Healthcare
Setting (42 U.S.C.
§13973)q
Study Conducted
2.00 — 2.00 — 2.00 — — — — —
by the Centers
for Disease
Control and
Prevention (42
U.S.C. §280b–4)
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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Grant
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012
Programs and
U.S. Code
Citation (by
Administrative
Agency) Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted
Centers for










Disease
Control and
Prevention and
Indian Health
Service (HHS)

Analysis and
0.50 — 0.50 — — — — — — —
Research on
Violence Against
Indian Women,
Injury Studyr
Administration










for Children
and Families
(HHS)

Collaborative
10.00 — 10.00 — 10.00 — 10.00 — — —
Grants to
Increase the
Long-Term
Stability of
Victims (42 U.S.C.
§14043e–3)
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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Grant
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012
Programs and
U.S. Code
Citation (by
Administrative
Agency) Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted Authorized Enacted
Grants for
5.00 — 5.00 — 5.00 — 5.00 — — —
Training and
Collaboration on
the Intersection
Between
Domestic
Violence and
Child
Maltreatment
(Family and Youth
Services Bureau)
(42 U.S.C.
§14043c–2)
Health










Resources and
Services
Administration
(HHS)

Interdisciplinary
3.00 — 3.00 — 3.00 — 3.00 — — —
Training and
Education on
Domestic
Violence and
Other Types of
Violence and
Abuse (42 U.S.C.
§294h)q
Subtotal for HHS
110.50 42.02 110.50 41.84 110.00 42.62 108.00 39.47 — 37.90
Subtotal for DOJ 683.00 396.55 682.00 586.50 682.00 441.00 682.00 436.29 — 402.50
Total
793.50 438.57 792.50 628.34 792.00 483.62 790.00 475.76 — 440.40
Sources: FY2008-FY2012 appropriations for the OVW and OJP were taken from the congressional budget submissions for the OVW and OJP. The FY2008 and FY2009
appropriations for the CDC were taken from S.Rept. 110-410. The FY2010-FY2012 appropriations for the CDC were provided by the CDC.
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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding

Notes: This table includes programs authorized in the most recent reauthorization of VAWA (P.L. 109-162) and subsequent amendment to VAWA (P.L. 109-271). This
table includes VAWA authorized programs that did not receive appropriations. Programs that are funded by set-asides from VAWA authorized programs are reflected in
this table and marked with parentheses.
a. This amount includes $225.00 million provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5).
b. For FY2009, enacted funding for the STOP Program includes set-asides of $1.88 million for the Violence Against Women and Family Research and Evaluation Program
(NIJ) and $18.00 million for the Transitional Housing Assistance Program.
c. For FY2010, the enacted funding for the STOP Program includes set-asides of $3.00 million for the Violence Against Women and Family Research and Evaluation
Program (NIJ) and $18.00 million for the Transitional Housing Assistance Program.
d. For FY2011, the enacted funding for the STOP Program includes set-asides of $2.99 million for the Violence Against Women and Family Research and Evaluation
Program (NIJ) and $17.96 million for the Transitional Housing Assistance Program.
e. The Tribal Governments Program is funded by set-asides from seven other OVW grant programs: STOP; Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of
Protection Orders; Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Child Abuse Enforcement Assistance; Civil Legal Assistance for Victims;
Safe Havens; Transitional Housing; and Court Training and Improvements.
f.
This program was originally authorized by the Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today (PROTECT) Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-
21), and was reauthorized by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005.
g. For FY2008-FY2011, this program was funded by set-asides from the STOP Program.
h. This program is not authorized by Congress. It consolidates four VAWA-authorized programs in the Office on Violence Against Women: Engaging Men and Youth in
Prevention, Grants to Assist Children and Youth Exposed to Violence, Supporting Teens Through Education Program (STEP), and Services to Advocate and Respond
to Youth.
i.
This grant was originally authorized by the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386). It was modified and reauthorized by the Violence
Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005.
j.
Congress did not specify an amount of funding for this program but authorized set-asides from the STOP Program and Sexual Assault Services Program.
k. The Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program is funded by statutory set-asides from the STOP Program and Sexual Assault Services Program.
l.
This program is one of four programs consolidated to create the Consolidated Youth Oriented Program. FY2012 funding for this program is reflected in the FY2012
funding for the Consolidated Youth Oriented Program.
m. The Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 authorized “sums as may be necessary” for FY2006-FY2010.
n. This program is not authorized by Congress. It is included in this table because it is funded by a set-aside from the STOP Program.
o. This program does not have a U.S. Code citation but funding is authorized under Sec. 110 of the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization
Act of 2005.
p. The Attorney General has not yet determined the administrative office for the Grants for Law Enforcement Training Program.
q. These programs were never funded, however, the basic purpose areas were funded through an appropriations provision with grants administered by the HHS Office
of Women’s Health (OWH). For additional information, see http://www.womenshealth.gov/violence-against-women/.
r. This program does not have a U.S. Code citation but funding is authorized under Sec. 904 of the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization
Act of 2000
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The Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding


Author Contact Information

Lisa N. Sacco

Analyst in Illicit Drugs and Crime Policy
lsacco@crs.loc.gov, 7-7359

Congressional Research Service
31