**OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN**

**U.S. Department of Justice**

**FY 2008 PERFORMANCE BUDGET**

**Congressional Submission**

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# Table of Contents

Page No.

**I. Overview** 2

**II. Summary of Program Changes** 6

**III. Appropriations Language and Analysis of Appropriations Language**
7

IV\. Decision Unit Justification

A. Prevention and Prosecution of Violence Against Women

and Related Victim Services Program 8

1\. Program Description

2\. Performance Tables

3\. Performance, Resources, and Strategies

a\. Performance Plan and Report for Outcomes

b\. Strategies to Accomplish Outcomes

c\. Results of Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) Reviews

V. Exhibits

A.  Organizational Chart

> B. Summary of Requirements
>
> C. Program Increases by Decision Unit

D.  Resources by DOJ Strategic Goal/Objective

E.  Justification for Base Adjustments

F.  Crosswalk of 2006 Availability

G.  Crosswalk of 2007 Availability

H.  Summary of Reimbursable Resources

I.  Detail of Permanent Positions by Category

J.  Financial Analysis of Program Increases/Offsets

K.  Summary of Requirements by Grade

L.  Summary of Requirements by Object Class

M.  Status of Congressionally Requested Studies, Reports, and
    Evaluations NA

**I. Overview for the Office on Violence Against Women**

For FY 2008, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) requests a total
of \$370,005,000, 53 positions, and 51 FTE to implement the Violence
Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation. OVW proposes to
consolidate all current formula and discretionary programs that it
administers, as well as some victims of child abuse programs currently
administered by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), into one
competitive grant program: Prevention and Prosecution of Violence
Against Women and Related Victim Services Program. This new approach
will eliminate formulas and earmarks---creating a single, flexible,
competitive grant program that can address multiple domestic violence,
sexual assault, dating violence and stalking issues around the Nation.
Beginning in FY 2007, electronic copies of the Department of Justice's
congressional budget justifications and Capital Asset Plan and Business
Case exhibits can be viewed or downloaded from the Internet using the
Internet address:
[**[http://www.usdoj.gov/jmd/2008justification/]{.underline}**](http://www.usdoj.gov/jmd/2008justification/).

**Background**

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) was created specifically to
implement the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent
legislation. OVW administers financial and technical assistance to
communities around the country to facilitate the creation of programs,
policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

In recognition of the severity of the crimes associated with domestic
violence, sexual assault, and stalking, Congress passed the Violence
Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA 1994) as part of the Violent Crime
Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. VAWA is a comprehensive
legislative package designed to end violence against women and was
reauthorized in both 2000 and 2005. The legislative history of VAWA
indicates that Congress seeks to remedy the legacy of laws and social
norms that serve to justify violence against women. Since the passage of
VAWA, there has been a paradigm shift in how the issue of violence
against women is addressed.

VAWA was designed to improve criminal justice responses to domestic
violence, sexual assault, and stalking and to increase the availability
of services for victims of these crimes. VAWA requires a coordinated
community response (CCR) to domestic violence, sexual assault, and
stalking, encouraging jurisdictions to bring together players from
diverse backgrounds to share information and to use their distinct roles
to improve community responses to violence against women. These players
include, but are not limited to: victim advocates, police officers,
prosecutors, judges, probation and corrections officials, health care
professionals, leaders within faith communities, and survivors of
violence against women. The federal law takes a comprehensive approach
to violence against women by combining tough new penalties to prosecute
offenders while implementing programs to aid the victims of such
violence.

The Violence Against Women Act of 2000 (VAWA 2000) and the Violence
Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005
(VAWA 2005) reauthorized the critical grant programs created by the
original VAWA and subsequent legislation, as well as established new
programs. Specifically, the new programs of VAWA 2005 include the Court
Training and Improvements, Child Witness, and Culturally Specific
programs. The VAWA 2000 reauthorization strengthened the original law by
improving protections for battered immigrants, sexual assault survivors,
and victims of dating violence. In addition, it enabled victims of
domestic violence that flee across state lines to obtain custody orders
without returning to jurisdictions where they may be in danger.
Furthermore, it improved the enforcement of protection orders across
state and tribal lines. VAWA 2005 continued to improve upon these laws
by providing an increased focus on the access to services for
underserved populations.

**Strategies**

OVW contributes to the Department's Strategic Goal 3: *Assist State,
Local, and Tribal Efforts to Prevent or Reduce Crime and Violence*.
Within this Goal, OVW specifically addresses the Department's Strategic
Objective 3.1: *Improve the crime fighting and criminal justice system
capabilities of state, tribal and local governments*.

OVW has implemented three strategies that are intended to effectively
meet the issues of ending violence against women and provide substantial
outcomes. These three strategies are: enhancing collaboration, measuring
effectiveness, and maintaining a sustainability focus.

[Enhancing Collaboration:]{.underline} The spirit of VAWA is what has
been termed the "coordinated community response." That is, in order to
be effective in responding to intimate partner violence, sexual assault,
or stalking, a community needs to work together, each member doing his
or her job knowing of and depending on the strengths of the other
community members. Law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and victim
advocates cannot respond appropriately to violence against women without
one another's support, as well as the support of the community. By
working together, a system can be created to keep victims safe and hold
offenders accountable. OVW has instituted this philosophy at all levels
of its work.

Applicants for federal grant funding need to demonstrate in their
proposals how their communities will establish a coordinated community
response. Moreover, community partners must sign a memorandum of
understanding outlining how the coordinated community response will
operate. OVW takes an active role in ensuring an enhanced collaboration
within DOJ. OVW program specialists are responsible for monitoring the
grant recipients and working closely with the grantee and with
components within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), such as the
National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the Bureau of Justice Statistics
(BJS), and the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), as they may be working
with the same grantees or on similar issues. Additionally, OVW works
directly with other DOJ components including the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
and the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA) to ensure
coordination across DOJ.

Finally, it is important to note that the DOJ and the Department of
Health and Human Services co-chair the National Advisory Committee on
Violence Against Women. These collaborative efforts help to ensure a
coordinated community response among the grantees, community partners,
OVW, and other related agencies.

[Measuring Effectiveness:]{.underline} Over the past four years, OVW has
undertaken a significant effort to implement a system for measuring the
effectiveness of projects supported by VAWA grant monies. To assist in
this work, OVW entered into a cooperative agreement with the University
of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Institute for Child
and Family Policy (Muskie School). This cooperative agreement with the
Muskie School facilitated the development of tools for grantee
self-reporting, the analysis of grantee data, and the drafting of
reports to Congress. As a result, OVW and the Muskie School developed
progress reporting forms that gather information from OVW's grantees.
Summary data is available on the Measuring Effectiveness website
([www.muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamci](http://www.muskie.usm.maine.edu/vawamci)).

[Maintaining a Sustainability Focus:]{.underline} OVW has employed
several procedures to improve the sustainability of community programs
beyond Federal funding:

-   Each applicant for competitive funding must develop a sustainability
    plan as part of their grant application. This plan is worth 5% of
    their total score.

-   All grant awards have been extended from a 12- or 18-month to a
    24-month period or longer.

-   Several OVW discretionary grant programs have implemented awards
    which give applicants the option of receiving funds for a limited
    number of years at decreasing funding levels for each award, thereby
    encouraging sustainability planning.

-   All technical assistance providers are instructed to emphasize the
    principal of the coordinated community response when working with
    grantees. The chances of attaining sustainable programs are improved
    with increased collaboration and coordination.

Performance Assessment Rating Tool (PART) Results

OVW was selected for review under the Program Assessment Rating Tool
(PART) process during FY 2006. OVW earned a rating of "Moderately
Effective," which is the second highest rating possible for an agency to
achieve. Below is a brief summary of the PART findings and improvement
plans. More details on the PART results may be found on page 26 of this
document.

PART Findings:

-   The programs are generally well-managed and largely achieve the goal
    of improving the nation\'s response to domestic violence and sexual
    assault crimes. In 2005, 3,250 communities achieved an improved
    capacity for a coordinated community response to address violent
    crimes against women with the help of these grant programs.

-   The program has met or exceeded recent performance targets,
    including increasing training on domestic violence and sexual
    assault issues, but needs to set more challenging targets to support
    continuous improvement in the results achieved by grantees.

-   Independent and comprehensive evaluations would help demonstrate the
    impact of the programs.

PART Improvement Plans:

-   Setting more ambitious goals for program performance to ensure
    continuous improvement in program results.

-   Including performance information in budget submissions to better
    link resources requested to program performance goals.

-   Developing a comprehensive evaluation plan for the Violence Against
    Women Programs to obtain better information on the programs\'
    impacts.

**II. Summary of Program Changes**

  --------------- ---------------------------------- ---------- --------- ----------- ----------
  **Item Name**   **Description**                                                     **Page**

                                                     **Pos.**   **FTE**   **Dollars   
                                                                          (\$000)**   

  New             Represents the shift in resources  5          3         369,680     21
  Consolidated,   from multiple grant programs into                                   
  Competitive     a single competitive program for                                    
  Grant Program   FY 2008. Includes the                                               
                  consolidation of all existing OVW                                   
                  programs into eligible purposes                                     
                  within a single program. Also                                       
                  includes two additional eligible                                    
                  purposes for Child Witness and                                      
                  Court Training - originally                                         
                  authorized as programs in VAWA                                      
                  2005. This consolidation also                                       
                  incorporates as eligible purposes                                   
                  two previously OJP-administered                                     
                  programs: Stalking Databases and                                    
                  Comprehensive Approaches to Sex                                     
                  Offender Management; and a new                                      
                  eligible purpose for Sexual                                         
                  Assault Services.                                                   

  Consolidation   Represents the shift in resources  \-         \-        -398,622    25
  to a Single     from multiple grant programs into                                   
  Competitive     a single competitive program for                                    
  Grant Program   FY 2008.                                                            
  --------------- ---------------------------------- ---------- --------- ----------- ----------

**III. Appropriations Language and Analysis of Appropriations
Language**[^1]

**Appropriations Language**

*[Office on Violence Against Women]{.underline}*

*[Prevention and Prosecution of Violence Against Women and Related
Victim Services Program]{.underline}*

*[For competitive grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other
assistance for the prevention and prosecution of violence against women
and for related victims services, \$370,005,000, including amounts for
administrative costs, to remain available until expended.]{.underline}*

**Analysis of Appropriations Language**

-   This appropriation account supports a new consolidated, competitive
    grant program, including contracts, cooperative agreements and other
    assistance that support State, local, tribal and community efforts
    to develop and implement effective, coordinated prevention and
    prosecution of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault
    and stalking; and related victim services.

**IV. Decision Unit Justification**

**A. Prevention and Prosecution of Violence Against Women**

**and Related Victim Services Program**

  ------------------------------------- --------- --------- ---------------
  Prevention and Prosecution of         Perm.     FTE       Amount
  Violence Against Women and Related    Pos.                
  Victim Services Program TOTAL                             

  2006 Enacted w/ Rescissions and       44        44        \$386,502
  Supplementals                                             

  2007 Estimate                         48        46        398,622

  Adjustments to Base and Technical     \-        2         325
  Adjustments                                               

  2008 Current Services                 48        48        398,947

  2008 Program Increases                5         3         369,680

  2008 Offsets                          \-        \-        -398,622

  2008 Request                          53        51        370,005

  Total Change 2007-2008                5         5         -\$28,617
  ------------------------------------- --------- --------- ---------------

1\. Program Description

The major change proposed in the FY 2008 OVW budget is the creation of a
single, flexible, competitive grant program to replace a myriad of
current programs. This improvement will reduce the time grantees spend
filling out multiple applications for various OVW programs. Through
completion of a single application, grantees will be able to request
funding for any of the current programs which will be listed as eligible
purposes under the new consolidated, competitive program. Under this new
approach, earmarks and formulas will be eliminated; and multiple
domestic violence and sexual assault needs can be addressed as local
conditions dictate.

For FY 2008, OVW proposes to consolidate the following existing grant
programs as eligible purposes within a new competitive program:

-   Grants to Combat Violent Crimes Against Women, which includes:

    -   Service-Training-Officers-Prosecutors Violence Against Women
        Formula Grant Program (STOP Program);

    -   Grants to State Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalitions
        Program (State Coalitions Program);

    -   Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Grant
        Program (Tribal Coalitions Program);

    -   Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic
        Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault
        (Transitional Housing Program); and

-   Grants To Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection
    Orders Program (Arrest Program);

-   Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking,
    and Child Victimization Enforcement Grant Program (Rural Program);

-   Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program (LAV Program);

-   Grants to Combat Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault,
    and Stalking on Campus (Campus Program);

-   Enhanced Training and Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of
    Women Later in Life (Elderly Program);

-   Education, Training, and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against
    and Abuse of Women with Disabilities Grant Program (Disabilities
    Program); and

-   Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Exchange Grant Program (Safe
    Havens Program).

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-   Tribal Program -- funded currently through 10 percent set-asides in
    the STOP, Arrest, Rural, Safe Havens, Transitional Housing, and
    Court Training Programs; and a 7 percent set-aside in the LAV
    Program; and

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```
-   Enhancing Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services for
    Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and
    Stalking (Culturally Specific Program) -- funded under VAWA 2005
    through 5 percent set-asides from the Arrest, Rural, LAV, Elder, and
    Disability Programs.

As part of the FY 2008 consolidation proposal, two additional purposes
areas are established within the new grant program: Court Training and
Child Witness - originally authorized as programs in the Violence
Against Women Act of 2005.

The FY 2008 budget also proposes to consolidate the following
OJP-administered programs as eligible purposes within a new competitive
program:

-   Stalking Databases; and

-   Comprehensive Approaches to Sex Offender Management.

A new eligible purpose for Sexual Assault Services is also included in
the consolidation proposal.

OVW has established long-term and annual performance, efficiency, and
outcome measures to ensure that current and future program spending is
driven by strategies that achieve results. The following pages summarize
these measures, including actual and planned performance data.

![](media/image1.wmf)

[Notes:]{.underline}

1/ The FY 2008 President's Budget for OVW proposes a new consolidated,
competitive grant program to replace the current formula and
discretionary programs. This change will affect workload measures and
anticipated targets for FY 2008. The number of applications received is
expected to drop by one-third, because presently grantees can apply for
multiple OVW grants while a single consolidated application will
eliminate multiple applications from a single grantee. Also, no FY 2008
targets are shown for formula grants since those programs are proposed
to be eliminated as part of the consolidation plan.

2/ The FY 2008 President's Budget for OVW proposes a new consolidated,
competitive grant program to replace the current formula and
discretionary programs. Therefore, the formula grants performance
measures will be eliminated starting in FY 2008 and no targets are
applicable after FY 2007.

[Explanations for Targets Not Met in FY 2006:]{.underline}

Workload measure -- number of discretionary grants managed: the 2006
annual target was not met due to the following factors: 1) OVW revised
the budget cap under some programs, and therefore we are making fewer
awards overall for relatively higher grant amounts per award -- and this
trend is not expected to change; 2) the Safe Havens (or Supervised
Visitation) Program, did away with planning grants entirely and
increased funding per grant for other purposes under the Program; and 3)
there is a trend in the field among domestic violence coalitions to
consolidate; OVW has seen relatively higher grant awards in this area
but to fewer grantees and therefore fewer overall grants under
management.

Workload measure -- number of formula grants managed: the 2006 annual
target was not met primarily as a result of an increased focus on
closing out existing formula grants, and therefore a reduction in the
overall number of formula grants under management. This trend is
expected to continue, because the Department\'s Inspector General has
identified even more OVW grants that are overdue for close-out.

Performance measure (formula grants) -- number of victims receiving
requested services: the FY 2006 annual target for this measure was not
reached, because the target was developed using data from a previous
reporting form which aggregated 3-years of data and therefore was far
too high for an annual target; in addition, the number of victims served
from that old reporting form included both primary and secondary
victims. The new reporting form, now in use, provides data on an annual
basis, and only includes primary victims served which is considered a
more accurate measure of performance. The FY 2007 annual target has been
adjusted accordingly.

Performance measure (formula grants) -- number of people trained (by
profession): The FY 2006 annual target for this measure was not reached,
because the target was developed using data from a previous reporting
form which aggregated 3-years of data and therefore was far too high for
an annual target. The new reporting form, now in use, provides data on
an annual basis. The FY 2007 annual target has been adjusted
accordingly.

![](media/image2.wmf)

[Notes:]{.underline}

3/ The PART resulted in new performance measures for OVW, and the
above-cited measures were eliminated. Therefore, no FY 2008 targets for
these measures are included.

[Explanations for Target Not Met in FY 2006:]{.underline}

Performance measure (discretionary grants) -- number of people trained
(by profession): the FY 2006 annual target for this measure was not
reached, because delays in receiving annual appropriations for the
period reported on resulted in less time during the fiscal year for
grantees to carry-out their training activities.

![](media/image3.wmf)

[Notes:]{.underline}

3/ The PART resulted in new performance measures for OVW, and the
above-cited measure was eliminated. Therefore, no FY 2008 targets for
this measure are included.

![](media/image4.wmf)![](media/image5.wmf)![](media/image6.wmf)[Notes:]{.underline}

See notes following preceding performance tables.

3\. Performance, Resources, and Strategies

a\. Performance Plan and Report for Outcomes

OVW is getting results, and the data on the preceding pages demonstrates
that clearly. In the previous 12 month reporting period, OVW grantees
contributed to the issuance of 520,429 protection orders. That
represents a 22% increase above the prior year level of 425,479
protection orders. The last year saw 95.6% of victims requesting
services receiving them. Our grantees trained 117,898 professionals that
work with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault at all levels
of the criminal justice and social service system.

These results are good news for victims who are gradually gaining the
support, services and increased safety to end the cycle of abuse; and
bad news for perpetrators of stalking, dating violence, and other crimes
who are less likely today to continue their abuse without requiring
further intervention from law enforcement, victim advocates, or other
service providers. Grantees are helping to change attitudes, empower
victims and raise awareness about the issues of domestic violence and
sexual assault, and this is creating improved opportunities for success
of the greater mission of OVW to end violence against women.

b\. Strategies to Accomplish Outcomes

In order to end violence against women, and take even greater strides
towards this important goal, new strategies are required. Therefore, in
FY 2008, OVW proposes to consolidate all existing grant programs and
some OJP-administered victims of child abuse programs (see pages 8-9 and
the following pages for more details) into a single new competitive
program.

This change will allow grantees to request funding through a single
application to support activities previously authorized under multiple
programs hereafter to be incorporated as eligible purposes within the
new consolidated program. Grantees will have increased flexibility,
spend less time filling out paperwork, and be encouraged to apply for
federal support for numerous eligible purposes all with a single
application. Earmarks and formulas will be eliminated -- permitting
funds to be competitively distributed based on spikes in local crime and
other local factors highlighted by applicants.

The following pages summarize the technical budgetary changes, known as
program increases and offsets, required to implement this consolidation
in FY 2008:

[Program Increase]{.underline}

**Item Name: [New Consolidated, Competitive Grant Program
a]{.underline}**

Budget Decision Unit(s): [Prevention and Prosecution of Violence Against
Women]{.underline}

[and Related Victim Services Program]{.underline} a

Strategic Goal(s) & Objective(s): 3.1: Improve the crime fighting and
criminal justice

> system capabilities of state, tribal, and local governments.

Organizational Program: [Office on Violence Against Women]{.underline}

Program Increase: Positions [\_\_5 \_]{.underline}
Agt/Atty\_\_­­­[0]{.underline}\_\_ FTE [\_\_3\_\_]{.underline} Dollars
[\_\_\$369,680,000\_\_\_]{.underline}

Description of Item

For FY 2008, \$369,680,000 is requested for the new consolidated,
competitive grant program to be administered by OVW.

Justification

In order to end violence against women, and take even greater strides
towards this important goal, new strategies are required. Therefore, in
FY 2008, OVW proposes to consolidate all existing grant programs and
some OJP-administered programs (see pages 8-9 for more details) into a
single new competitive program.

This change will allow grantees to request funding through a single
application to support activities previously authorized under multiple
programs hereafter to be incorporated as eligible purposes within the
new consolidated program. Grantees will have increased flexibility,
spend less time filling out paperwork, and be encouraged to apply for
federal support for numerous eligible purposes all with a single
application. Earmarks and formulas will be eliminated -- permitting
funds to be competitively distributed based on spikes in local crime and
other local factors highlighted by applicants.

This consolidation also incorporates two previously OJP-administered
programs: Stalking Databases and Comprehensive Approaches to Sex
Offender Management. The Comprehensive Approaches to Sex Offender
Management (CASOM) eligible purpose will continue to help jurisdictions
implement comprehensive approaches to the effective management of sex
offenders in the community or to enhance existing programs. Funds are
intended to increase public safety and reduce victimization. The
Stalking Databases eligible purpose will continue to provide assistance
to states and units of local government to improve processes for
entering data regarding stalking and domestic violence into local,
state, and national crime information databases. Funds provided to
states have been used to upgrade the quality of state and local
protection order systems and ensure that such systems are capable of
supplying data on a real time basis to the FBI's NCIC Protection Order
File. In addition, funds have been used to ensure that states are in
position to initiate or enhance efforts to collect and flag misdemeanor
records that involve domestic violence and that represent a prohibiting
category of firearm purchases under the Brady Act.

In addition, two new eligible purposes will be established for Court
Training and Child Witness -- these were originally authorized as new
programs in VAWA 2005.

A new eligible purpose for Sexual Assault Services is also included in
the consolidation proposal.

Court Training Eligible Purpose:

VAWA 2000 initially recognized the importance of the courts as they
relate to domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking by requiring a
5% allocation towards courts within the STOP Formula Grant Program.
Additionally, VAWA 2000 allowed courts to apply directly for the Grants
to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders, a
program that requires the criminal justice system to hold offenders
accountable. In the VAWA 2005 reauthorization, Congress further promoted
the recognition for court improvements through the creation of the Court
Training program. The primary purpose of this new eligible purpose under
the consolidated grant program is to improve court responses to adult
and youth domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and
stalking.

Grants are to be awarded to 1) improve internal civil and criminal court
functions; 2) provide education for court-based and court-related
personnel; 3) ensure collaboration and training to improve
implementation and enforcement of relevant Federal, State, tribal,
territorial, and local law; 4) enable courts or court-related programs
to develop new or enhance current infrastructure, community-based
initiatives, offender management, monitoring and accountability
programs, safe and confidential information-storage and -sharing
databases, education and outreach programs, and other programs likely to
improve court responses; and 5) provide technical assistance to Federal,
State, tribal, territorial, and local courts wishing to improve or
create new practices and procedures.

The necessity for an eligible purpose focusing on Court Training is
highlighted in recent trends and relevant issues. Following a movement
beginning in the 1970's, greater emphasis has been placed on the ability
of courts to effectively hold domestic violence criminals accountable.
In 2000, over 300 judicial systems nationwide had specialized
structures, processes, and practices to handle domestic violence
cases.[^2] This trend of establishing "domestic violence courts" further
strengthens the case for the advancement in court training. Defense
attorneys, prosecutors, and judges often do not understand the dynamics
of domestic violence. The education afforded by awards funded through
this eligible purpose will help them recognize the need for particular
victims to flee with their children in order to escape the abuse. [^3]
For instance, a victim that flees with a child may be criminally charged
with parental kidnapping if the key players, such as judges, are not
properly trained to recognize these situations. Training and
collaboration is needed so the courts can better understand the victim's
need to stay away from the abuser, develop the skills to appropriately
promote safety for the victim and children, and enforce offender
accountability. [^4]

In addition to court training, funding will support efforts to develop
national and tribal education curricula for State and national judicial
educators and tribal court judges. The purpose of these initiatives is
to ensure that all courts, including tribal courts, and court personnel
have appropriate access to relevant information regarding promising
practices, procedures, and policies as they relate to adult and youth
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Child Witness Eligible Purpose:

The primary purpose of the Child Witness eligible purpose is to award
grants to eligible entities in order to mitigate the effects of domestic
violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on children
exposed to such violence, and reduce the risk of future victimization or
perpetration of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and
stalking. Specifically, the programs funded under the Child Witness
eligible purpose may provide direct counseling, advocacy, or mentoring
services for children, and must provide support for the non-abusive
parent or caretaker. Additionally, the eligible purpose will provide
training, coordination, and advocacy for programs that serve children
and youth. This initiative will focus on how to safely and
confidentially identify children and families experiencing domestic
violence and properly refer them to the programs serving children
exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or
stalking.

The necessity of the Child Witness eligible purpose is highlighted in
recent trends and relevant issues. Research shows that between 3.3 and
10 million children witness the abuse of a parent or adult caregiver
each year. [^5] The prevalence of children exposed to domestic violence
merits increased attention to this issue. For instance, in the New York
state case of Nicholson v. Scoppetta, mothers and their children brought
a Federal action, challenging the constitutionality of the city's policy
of removing children from mothers' custody solely on the ground that the
mothers failed to prevent children from witnessing domestic violence.
The court opinion cites the need for counseling and related services for
traumatized children in cases where domestic violence is witnessed. [^6]

The Child Witness eligible purpose of the new consolidated OVW grant
program will support critical services, training, coordination, and
advocacy for programs for youth witnesses of domestic violence.
Furthermore, several states have broadened the definition of child
maltreatment to include children's exposure to domestic violence. For
example, Delaware, Georgia, and Utah define domestic violence in the
presence of a child as a form of criminal child maltreatment. Studies
show that between 45 and 70 percent of children exposed to domestic
violence are direct victims of physical abuse and that children exposed
to domestic violence are at an increased risk of experiencing negative
consequences. It is argued that early intervention can prevent lasting
damage to children from violent homes. [^7] The Child Witness eligible
purpose aims to mitigate the damage related to children exposed to
domestic violence.

Impact on Performance (Relationship of Increase to Strategic Goals)

This eligible purpose supports the Department's Strategic Goal 3:
*Assist State, Local and Tribal Efforts to Prevent or Reduce Crime and
Violence*. Specifically, the program supports the Department's Strategic
Objective 3.1: *Improve the crime fighting and criminal justice system
capabilities of state, tribal, and local governments*.

The establishment a single new consolidated, competitive grant program
will reduce the time grantees spend filling out multiple applications
for various OVW programs. Through completion of a single application,
grantees will be able to request funding for any of the current programs
which will be listed as eligible purposes under the new consolidated,
competitive program. Under this new approach, multiple domestic violence
and sexual assault needs can be addressed as local conditions dictate.

# Funding

[Base Funding]{.underline}

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<col style="width: 5%" />
<col style="width: 14%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 13%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 15%" />
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="4"><p id="fy-2006-enacted" class="heading"> FY 2006 Enacted
</p></td>
<td colspan="4"><p id="fy-2007-estimate" class="heading">FY 2007
Estimate </p></td>
<td colspan="4"><p id="fy-2008-presidents-budget" class="heading">FY
2008 President’s Budget </p>
<p id="current-services" class="heading">Current Services</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Pos</td>
<td><p>Agt/</p>
<p>atty</p></td>
<td>FTE</td>
<td>$(000)</td>
<td>Pos</td>
<td><p>agt/</p>
<p>atty</p></td>
<td>FTE</td>
<td>$(000)</td>
<td>Pos</td>
<td><p>agt/</p>
<p>atty</p></td>
<td>FTE</td>
<td>$(000)</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>-</td>
<td>-</td>
<td>-</td>
<td>-</td>
<td>-</td>
<td>-</td>
<td>-</td>
<td>-</td>
<td>-</td>
<td>-</td>
<td>-</td>
<td>$325</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Non-Personnel Increase Cost Summary

+-------------------+---------------+-------------+-------------------+
| Non-Personnel     | Unit Cost     | Quantity    | FY 2008           |
| Item              |               |             |                   |
|                   |               |             | Request (\$000)   |
+-------------------+---------------+-------------+-------------------+
| Grants            | NA            | NA          | \$369,680         |
+-------------------+---------------+-------------+-------------------+
|                   |               |             |                   |
+-------------------+---------------+-------------+-------------------+
| Total             |               |             | \$369,680         |
| Non-Personnel     |               |             |                   |
+-------------------+---------------+-------------+-------------------+

Total Request for this Item

+----------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+
|                      | Non-Personnel     | Total                     |
|                      |                   |                           |
|                      | (\$000)           | (\$000)                   |
+----------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+
| Current Services     | \$325             | \$325                     |
+----------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+
| Increases            | 369,680           | 369,680                   |
+----------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+
| Grand Total          | \$370,005         | \$370,005                 |
+----------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+

Note: Administrative costs for OVW, including personnel funding, are
included in the overall appropriated level and therefore no personnel
cost summary if provided.

[Program Offset]{.underline}

**Item Name: [Consolidation to Single Competitive Grant Program
a]{.underline}**

Budget Decision Unit(s): [Prevention and Prosecution of Violence Against
Women]{.underline}

[and Related Victim Services Program]{.underline} a

Strategic Goal(s) & Objective(s): 3.1: Improve the crime fighting and
criminal justice

> system capabilities of state, tribal, and local governments.

Organizational Program: [Office on Violence Against Women]{.underline}

Program Reduction: Positions [\_ - \_]{.underline} Agt/Atty
\_\_[-]{.underline}\_\_FTE \_ [-]{.underline}\_[\_]{.underline} Dollars
[\_-\$398,622,000\_\_]{.underline}

Description of Item

This offset is a technical budget change required in order to implement
the consolidation of multiple current OVW programs into a single new
competitive program for FY 2008. For FY 2008, a program offset of
-\$368,922,000 is requested for this consolidation.

[Summary Justification]{.underline}

See justification on page 29 above.

[Impact on Performance (Relationship of Reduction to Strategic
Goals)]{.underline}

See impact on page 29 above.

**Funding**

Base Funding

<table style="width:100%;">
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 5%" />
<col style="width: 14%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 13%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 15%" />
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="4"><p id="fy-2006-enacted-w-rescissions-and-supplementals"
class="heading"> FY 2006 Enacted w/ Rescissions and
Supplementals</p></td>
<td colspan="4"><p id="fy-2007-estimate-1" class="heading">FY 2007
Estimate</p></td>
<td colspan="4"><p id="fy-2008-presidents-budget-1" class="heading">FY
2008 President’s Budget</p>
<p id="current-services-1" class="heading"> Current Services</p></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Pos</td>
<td><p>agt/</p>
<p>atty</p></td>
<td>FTE</td>
<td>$(000)</td>
<td>Pos</td>
<td><p>agt/</p>
<p>atty</p></td>
<td>FTE</td>
<td>$(000)</td>
<td>Pos</td>
<td><p>agt/</p>
<p>atty</p></td>
<td>FTE</td>
<td>$(000)</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>44</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>44</td>
<td>$381,566</td>
<td>48</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>46</td>
<td>$398,622</td>
<td>48</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>48</td>
<td>$398,622</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Non-Personnel Reduction Cost Summary

+-----------------+----------------+-----------------+----------------+
| Non-Personnel   | Unit           | Quantity        | FY 2008        |
| Item            |                |                 |                |
|                 |                |                 | Request        |
|                 |                |                 |                |
|                 |                |                 | (\$000)        |
+-----------------+----------------+-----------------+----------------+
| Grants          | NA             | NA              | -\$398,622     |
+-----------------+----------------+-----------------+----------------+
| Total           |                |                 | -\$398,622     |
| Non-Personnel   |                |                 |                |
+-----------------+----------------+-----------------+----------------+

Grand Total

+----------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+
|                      | Non-Personnel     | Total                     |
|                      |                   |                           |
|                      | (\$000)           | (\$000)                   |
+----------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+
| Current Services     | \$398,622         | \$398,947                 |
+----------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+
| Offsets              | -398,622          | -398,622                  |
+----------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+
| Grand Total          | \$0               | \$0                       |
+----------------------+-------------------+---------------------------+

c\. Results of Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) Reviews

OVW was selected for review under the Program Assessment Rating Tool
(PART) process during FY 2006. OVW earned a rating of "Moderately
Effective," which is the second highest rating possible for an agency to
achieve. Below is a brief summary of the PART findings.

PART Findings:

-   The programs are generally well-managed and largely achieve the goal
    of improving the nation\'s response to domestic violence and sexual
    assault crimes. In 2005, 3,250 communities achieved an improved
    capacity for a coordinated community response to address violent
    crimes against women with the help of these grant programs.

-   The program has met or exceeded recent performance targets,
    including increasing training on domestic violence and sexual
    assault issues, but needs to set more challenging targets to support
    continuous improvement in the results achieved by grantees.

-   Independent and comprehensive evaluations would help demonstrate the
    impact of the programs.

To address these findings, OVW has developed three improvement plans.
The first improvement plan requires that OVW set more ambitious goals
for program performance to ensure continuous improvement in program
results. OVW has not taken any action to date, because the PART review
was just completed. However, OVW plans to implement this plan by: (1)
incorporating PART measures into its semi-annual Measuring Effectiveness
Report; (2) working to make sure data is reviewed by management to set
educated and ambitious goals for performance measures; and (3) sending
memo(s) to grantees to emphasize the importance of timely and accurate
reporting.

The second improvement plan requires that OVW include performance
information in budget submissions to better link resources requested to
program performance goals. The current document represents the
implementation of this plan, specifically the Decision Unit
Justification including Performance Tables and the subsequent discussion
under Performance, Resources and Strategies. The OVW Budget Officer has
incorporated PART performance measures and information in budget
submissions.

The third improvement plan requires that OVW develop a comprehensive
evaluation plan for the Prevention and Prosecution of Violence Against
Women and Related Victim Services Program to obtain better information
on the programs\' impacts. OVW has not taken any action to date, because
the PART review was just completed. However, OVW plans to meet with
experts from Council for Excellence in Government in early 2007 to
further discuss ideas for a cost-effective, independent, and comparative
evaluation.

**VII. EXHIBITS**

[^1]: The FY 2008 President\'s Budget uses the FY 2007 President\'s
    Budget language as a base so all language is presented as new.

[^2]: Little, Kristin, "Specialized Courts and Domestic Violence."
    (http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itdhr/0503/ijde/littel. htm)

[^3]: Office on Violence Against Women, "Report on Effects of Parental
    Kidnapping Laws in Domestic Violence Cases," U.S. Department of
    Justice (pg. 14).

[^4]: *Id*. at 20. *.*

[^5]: "Children and Domestic Violence: A Bulletin for Professionals. "
    Administration for Children & Families. 2003.

[^6]: Nicholson, Sharwline v. Scoppetta, Nicholas. 3 N. Y. 3d 357, 820
    N. E. 2d 840.

[^7]: Christian, Steve. "Children's Exposure to Domestic Violence: Is it
    Child Abuse?" NCSL State Legislative Report. Volume 27, Number 1.
    January 2002.