ICJR Program Distributes $31.5 Million to Strengthen How Police, Prosecutors, and Courts Respond to Violence Against Women

The Office on Violence Against Women is accepting Category 1 applications from government entities, courts, coalitions, and victim service providers that want to strengthen the criminal justice system's response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Applications must be submitted in Grants.gov by August 18, 2026, with the full application due in JustGrants by August 20, 2026. Award amounts for Category 1 are scaled to service area population and may include additional funding for programs dedicated to sexual assault response or that establish dedicated law enforcement and prosecution positions. OVW gives priority to projects serving rural, remote, and tribal communities.

Assistance Listing Number: 16.590
Opportunity Identification Number: O-OVW-2026-172633
Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women
Application Deadline: August 18, 2026

Eligible Institutional Structures and Geographic Priorities

Eligible applicants for Category 1 include state governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, units of local government, state and local courts including juvenile courts, state or territorial domestic violence coalitions, state or territorial sexual assault coalitions, tribal DV and SA coalitions, and victim service providers with 501(c)(3) status. Police departments, sheriffs' departments, and prosecutors' offices cannot apply directly; they must work through an eligible governmental lead applicant.

All government and court applicants must formally partner with a victim service provider, and all coalition and victim service provider applicants must formally partner with a government entity. These required partnerships must be documented in a signed memorandum of understanding. OVW may give priority consideration to projects primarily serving small towns, rural communities, and tribal communities.

Financial Mechanics and Match Requirements

Category 1 award amounts are population-based: up to $500,000 for service areas up to 400,000 people, up to $750,000 for areas of 400,001 to 700,000 people, and up to $1,000,000 for areas above 700,000 and statewide applications. Applications focused on the Policing and Prosecution Initiative may request an additional $300,000 for dedicated law enforcement or prosecution positions. Applications that dedicate at least 45 percent of their budget to specified sexual assault purposes may request an additional $200,000 and may be eligible for an additional 24 months of noncompetitive continuation funding. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The budget must include at least $5,000 for OVW training and technical assistance travel.

Administrative Compliance and Post Award Oversight

Awards operate under 2 CFR Part 200 and the DOJ Grants Financial Guide. State and local government applicants must provide an HIV certification, assurance, or letter of exemption with the application. All applicants must submit a Certification of Eligibility covering organizational policies on arrest, victim fees, and victim polygraph prohibition. A Confidentiality Notice Form is required. The certification regarding out-of-scope activities is required and is subject to ongoing federal litigation; applicants should verify current requirements before submission.

Performance is measured through OVW's VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative. OVW evaluates success based on performance reports and the extent to which project activities advance the program's goals of improving offender accountability, protecting victim safety, and strengthening the coordinated community response to violence against women.