October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and the Brown County Prosecutor’s Office has been awarded a grant to ensure that victims of domestic violence can continue to be heard.
The Brown County Prosecutor’s Office was awarded more than $28,000 from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) this month as a part of the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program. “STOP” stands for services, training, officers and prosecutors.
ICJI awarded nearly $3 million to 51 public and nonprofit organizations throughout the state, and Brown County Prosecutor’s Office was awarded $28,159.
The program is designed to support communities in their efforts to develop and strengthen law enforcement and prosecution strategies to combat violence against women, as well as enhance victim services and safety, according to a press release from ICJI.
“This funding is about making sure that more communities have access to the resources they need to prevent victimization and bring violent offenders to justice,” said Devon McDonald, ICJI Executive Director.
“It’s important that we do everything we can to help break the cycle of violence and shore up support for victims.”
Established by the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program promotes a coordinated effort to improve the criminal justice system’s response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. The funds are provided by the Office on Violence Against Women under the U.S. Department of Justice.
This year, the grants will be used to provide legal advocacy, counseling, training for law enforcement and court personnel and victim support services. Funding will also help pay for special prosecutors and investigators who are dedicated to handling cases involving crimes against women.
“For most victims, obtaining a protective order or pursuing legal action is uncharted territory, but we don’t want that to be a barrier to seeking safety or justice,” said Kim Lambert, ICJI Victim Services Director.
“There are resources and advocates who can help that will stand with and alongside victims throughout the process. This funding expands those efforts.”
The grants were approved by the ICJI Board of Trustees in September and made available to organizations starting this month. As a formula grant, funding was distributed based on a predetermined amount, with a majority (96%) going to law enforcement, prosecution and victim service programs. The remaining 4% was allocated for court programs.
In Brown County, the grant is used to fund the victim advocate position at the prosecutor’s office, which is filled by Jill Seward.
Brown County Prosecuting Attorney Ted Adams said the victim advocate plays a critical role in cases at the prosecutor’s office, in giving victims a voice.
The position has been funded by the grant since 1999. The grant is distributed in a two-year cycle.
Adams said there is a have a constitutional requirement to keep victims informed about where their cases are going and give them a voice in a situation, especially in felony level cases.
He added that there has been a “wise push” in criminal justice to give victims a voice when it comes to sentencing and what kind of outcome they would like to see.
The grant is critical for the prosecutor’s office, Adams said, as it alleviates a financial burden that would otherwise fall on Brown County taxpayers.
A portion of it is paid out of user fees from other programs and some comes from the general fund; the majority comes from the grant.
Domestic violence is a large issue in the county, he said, and is one of the more important issues in their office.
Even though the primary case type they see is driving while suspended, Adams said they take drug and victim cases seriously because there is an impact on victims.
“We care very much about those cases,” he said.
“It’s very important to our office.”
From Jan. 1 through Oct. 19 of this year, there have been 25 victims of domestic violence in Brown County.
Typically aggressors are someone that the victim is related to, Seward said. Many cases stem from mental health issues or substance abuse, Seward added.
The prosecutor’s office is a resource for victims whose aggressors face criminal charges. The prosecutor’s office partners with other resources, like Turning Point, who can help with protective orders and help get individuals in a domestic situation out of their homes.
Seward helps be the voice for victims after the case has been filed.
“Victims have rights and I make sure their rights are upheld,” she said.
Domestic violence resources
» Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, 800-221-6311
» Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, toll free hotline, 800-332-7385
» Family and Social Services Administration, 800-403-0864
