This paper describes programs sponsored by the Federal Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) -- in collaboration with other Office of Justice Programs bureaus as well as public and private interest groups and agencies -- that develop strategies, discuss issues, and make recommendations to prevent and combat the victimization of women; for the purpose of this fact sheet, violence against women includes sexual assault, campus crime, stalking, and domestic violence.
Following an overview of OVC's funding authority, this paper describes some of the OVC's discretionary funding initiatives designed to address violence against women. Programs pertinent to sexual assault include the development of a guidebook for nurse examiners of sexual assault victims; the development of a comprehensive training and technical assistance package for crisis response, advocacy, and mental health services for sexual assault victims; and the development of a training and technical assistance package for providing services and support for deaf victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Fourteen domestic violence programs are described in this paper. The programs include expanded education for attorneys and law students regarding domestic violence and how to assist domestic violence victims; the development of a curriculum for victim advocates and attorneys regarding the Battered Immigrant Women Provisions of the Violence Against Women Act; and training for dentists and ancillary staff on how to intervene effectively with victims of domestic violence. Other funded activities are the development of strategies to enhance workplace response to victims of domestic violence; guidelines for policy and practice in intervention in domestic violence and child abuse cases; and a national teleconference on domestic violence.