(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that his office is now accepting grant applications for several million dollars in competitive grant funds that will be directed towards strengthening sexual assault victim advocacy programs on the campuses of Ohio's colleges and universities.
The $3 million in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants, which were announced by Attorney General DeWine in June, are part of several initiatives launched by the Ohio Attorney General's Office to help Ohio's colleges and universities respond better to sexual assaults.
Ohio's public and private colleges and universities, as well as non-profit organizations that work with survivors of campus sexual assault, are eligible to apply for the grants. The funding will be used to provide direct victim services, such as crisis response, hospital advocacy, criminal justice advocacy, and campus judicial system advocacy, to survivors of sexual assaults that take place on Ohio campuses.
"Survivors of sexual assault deserve access to extensive victim services, no matter where they live in this state and regardless of whether the assault happens on campus or off," said Attorney General DeWine. "I urge agencies that want to provide increased victim advocacy services to apply for the funding."
Those who qualify can apply for the grants online via the Ohio Attorney General's website. Grant applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 31, 2015. Awards will be announced in September.
Those needing guidance on the grant application process can attend one of two webinars next week that will discuss the grant application system and grant review procedures. Those interested in signing up for a webinar must register in advance on the Attorney General's website.
Other efforts by the Attorney General's Office to assist colleges and universities in responding to campus sexual assaults include a series of free Campus Sexual Assault Investigation Training courses provided by the Attorney General's Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy. Training courses have been held at Bowling Green State University, The Ohio State University, Ohio University, The University of Akron, and Miami University. Training will also take place at Ohio Wesleyan University next week.
The Attorney General's Office also created memorandum of understanding materials for use by schools to develop agreements with law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim service providers. The materials can be used to help clearly define each party's role when a sexual assault is reported because law enforcement investigations and campus disciplinary proceedings often occur simultaneously.
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Media Contacts:
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840