New Funding Announced for a Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to prosecute for Rosebud Sioux Tribe
SIOUX FALLS - In conjunction with National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that the Rosebud Sioux Tribe will be awarded funding for a new Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to help prosecute domestic violence, and other violent crimes, on the reservation.
The announcement came at a meeting where Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein met with Acting Director of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Katherine Sullivan, and other senior Justice officials, to discuss the Violence Against Women Act’s (VAWA) essential focus on criminal justice responses to domestic violence. Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein also announced new OVW funding for the department’s Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney program.
“There is no place in society for domestic violence and the Department of Justice is committed to holding perpetrators accountable," said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “We are pleased to be partnering with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in adding a new Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney who will be able to prosecute these important cases both in federal and tribal court. This is a true force multiplier that will continue to build bridges and promote cooperation between governments and have a lasting impact in our collective mission to stamp out domestic violence wherever it exists."
OVW’s Tribal Special Assistant United States Attorneys (Tribal SAUSAs) Program is another Department initiative supporting innovative prosecutorial collaborations. These prosecutors bring cases in both tribal and federal courts, and help ensure that tribal and federal authorities have a seamless response in prosecuting cases under their jurisdiction. In OVW’s pilot project, Tribal SAUSAs reported a wide range of successes, including prosecution of cases that otherwise may not have been brought.
OVW announced new Tribal SAUSA Program awards of $437,500 each to the following four tribes:
• Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (Arizona);
• Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (Oregon);
• Rosebud Sioux Tribe (South Dakota); and
• Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (Washington).
Commemorated in the United States since 1987, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month educates the public, commemorates and honors victims and survivors, and connects service providers across the country. President Trump has continued the tradition of issuing a presidential proclamation to recognize October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Strengthening criminal justice is the core component of VAWA, and Acting Director Sullivan pointed to the Improving the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program (ICJR) as the “backbone of VAWA." ICJR helps communities investigate and prosecute these crimes and keep violent criminals off the street. Since 1997, OVW has made 1,655 ICJR grant awards totaling over $847 million. In fiscal year 2018, OVW made 54 ICJR awards totaling $32.6 million.
This funding has supported justice responses including dedicated police and prosecution units, specialized courts, and offender monitoring in 538 communities. For example, Fairfax County in Virginia uses ICJR funding to support a specialized prosecutor for domestic violence and stalking cases and to monitor the enforcement of civil protective orders.
ICJR also funds unique collaborative approaches, such as Family Justice Centers - “one stop shops" housing police, prosecution, and victim services in one place - and multidisciplinary teams that decrease domestic violence homicides. Since 2012 OVW has awarded over $24 million in ICJR funding to reduce domestic violence homicide, including pilot sites, nationwide training, and research. This includes six awards totaling $3,299,977 for fiscal year 2018.
Many victims also face substance abuse issues, and may struggle to access the justice system and get the protection they need. OVW is today announcing an award of $450,000 to the Alliance for HOPE International to train Family Justice Centers to address this complex challenge. The Alliance for HOPE International will partner with the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health.
VAWA was first authorized in 1994 and focused on strengthening the criminal justice response to domestic violence. VAWA was reauthorized in 2000, 2005, and 2013, and each reauthorization included expansions such as addressing elder abuse, combatting stalking, and serving victims of sex trafficking in Indian Country. More information about VAWA is available at www.justice.gov/ovw/legislation.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
