Evaluation of the STOP Formula Grants to Combat Violence Against Women 2001 Report

• NCJ Number: 196991
• Author(s): Martha R. Burt; Janine M. Zweig; Cynthia Andrews; Ashley Van Ness; Neal Parikh; Brenda K. Uekert; Adele V. Harrell
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 244 pages
• Grant Number(s): 95-WT-NX-0005
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
• Corporate Author: The Urban Institute
• Sale Source: The Urban Institute
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded September 25, 2002

Annotation

This report evaluates the advancements and accomplishments of the STOP Violence Against Women Program from its introduction in 1995 through March 2001.

Abstract

Highlighting the progress and accomplishments of the STOP (Services Training Officers Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program to combat violence against women, this report addresses the time period from the program’s introduction through its sixth year in March 2001. Following a brief presentation of the highlights of this report, this work details a series of project recommendations in table format. Details of this report begin with both an introduction to the Violence Against Women Act and an overview of how STOP funding has been spent since 1995. Detailing the distribution of funds across law enforcement, prosecution, and victim services, the authors describe patterns of awards among STOP Program projects. Focusing on criminal justice projects and interactions between communities and agencies receiving grants, this report presents results from a telephone survey, conducted during the summer 2000, of STOP-funded projects within law enforcement and prosecution agencies. Results from the telephone surveys and evidence from site visits indicate positive impacts of the STOP Program in the communities that received subgrants to combat crime against women. Turning to issues of sexual assault, the authors argue that State STOP agencies need to continue to fund separate victim services for sexual assault and domestic violence. In measuring the impact of the STOP subgrants on the criminal justice system as a whole, this report concludes that many of the signs of the STOP Program’s impact are difficult to measure because so many jurisdictions are considered at the same time. The authors recommend additional funding for better data collection systems in order to more effectively document changes in the criminal justice system, following the implementation of STOP-Program funding grants. Following a brief listing of references is a series of appendices concerning Federal administration of the STOP Program, the number of awards granted, State-by-State, and a discussion of data problems. A detailed discussion of each State’s STOP Program accomplishments comprises the bulk of the appendices and completes this report.