Press Releases
New Hampshire Delegation Announces $990,000 Federal Grant to Support Victims of Violence Against Women
Concord, N.H.,
September 10, 2013
Today, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Congresswomen Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) announced that the New Hampshire Department of Justice will receive a $990,132 federal grant to support victims of domestic and sexual assault around New Hampshire.
CONCORD, N.H. – Today, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Congresswomen Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) announced that the New Hampshire Department of Justice will receive a $990,132 federal grant to support victims of domestic and sexual assault around New Hampshire. The grant, administered through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), is part of the agency’s STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant program (STOP), which seeks to coordinate victims services, law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to better address crimes against women. In New Hampshire, officials will use the money to enhance domestic violence units in county attorneys offices and local police departments, among other public and non-profit agencies. “We have to do all we can to fight sexual assault and domestic violence,” Shaheen said. “This grant will help those efforts by providing critical and proven services to support survivors, social service providers and law enforcement officials.” “This grant will help ensure effective coordination among New Hampshire law enforcement, judicial personnel, and public and private service providers as they work to prevent violence against women, support victims, and prosecute the perpetrators of these heinous crimes,” said Ayotte, who served as New Hampshire’s attorney general from 2004-2009. “As a longtime prosecutor who has worked extensively with victims, I am a strong supporter of VAWA programs – which provide critical support to local and state prevention programs.” “Violence against women remains a critically important issue in New Hampshire and around the country,” Kuster said. “This money will help ensure that our law enforcement officials at every level are working together to help the victims of domestic and sexual abuse and to prevent future violence against women.” “This grant will help support women who are victims of abuse and provide resources for law-enforcement and prosecutors to hold offenders accountable,“ Shea-Porter said. “I’m very pleased that the Department of Justice and state of New Hampshire are working together to establish a coordinated approach to ending violence against women.” In addition to supporting public safety agencies, portions of the money will go toward domestic violence prevention coalitions and other advocacy groups, who provide support services for victims. “There are a great many people out there in the field who are helping victims of domestic and sexual assault,” said Tim Brackett, Supervisor of Grants Management for the New Hampshire Department of Justice. “This money will help us all work together to support and serve the victims.” The STOP program receives funding under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which Congress reauthorized in February with the New Hampshire delegation’s unanimous support. At least 30 percent of the funds awarded must go to nongovernmental victim services programs; at least 25 percent to law enforcement; and at least 25 percent to prosecution. Additional information about the program is available here. ### |