The STOP Program encourages the development and implementation of effective, victim-centered law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to address violent crimes against women and the development and enhancement of victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women. It envisions a partnership among law enforcement, prosecution, courts, and victim services organizations to enhance victim safety and hold offenders accountable for their crimes against women.
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) encourages Illinois applicants to develop and support projects that:
- Provide services to women who are victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate a plan for training police, prosecutors, judges, circuit clerks, probation officers, and service providers to promote an interdisciplinary approach to sexual assault and domestic violence.
- Implement measures that document and assess the response of criminal justice agencies in Illinois to sexual assault and domestic violence.
In Illinois, priority consideration is given to applications that include:
- Specialized units - This includes (1) Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Multi-Disciplinary Team Response Programs; (2) Sexual assault medical advocacy; (3) Domestic violence and sexual assault prosecution; and (4) Domestic violence law enforcement.
- Victim Services - This includes (1) Services for underserved areas of victim groups; (2) Transitional housing services; (3) Services to female inmates; and (4) Services to victims of domestic violence.
In 2022, funds will be used to maintain or expand multidisciplinary programs (MDTs). The goal of the MDT program is to encourage and promote a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to improve the response to violent crimes of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating. The goal of the programs is to restructure and strengthen the protocols in responding to and dealing with the problem of violence against women; to draw on the experience of all the players in the system, and to develop a comprehensive strategy to deal with this complex problem.