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Funding the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP)

FCASV is working closely with the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) and other national partners to fund SASP, a program authorized by VAWA 2005 to fund sexual assault services. Efforts are currently underway to seek funding in the 2008 federal budget.

Violence Against Women Act Reauthorized

Thanks in large part to the grassroots effort of rape crisis centers and domestic violence programs, Congress passed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in mid-December, and on January 5, 2006, President Bush signed VAWA into law. VAWA 2005 includes many provisions to address sexual assault. New funding streams are included to support direct services, prevent sexual violence, serve teens and youth, and provide housing opportunities for victims. Note that while VAWA authorizes grant programs at certain spending levels, appropriations battles lie ahead of us to ensure that funding is provided for these programs.

Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP)
The Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) will create a desperately-needed funding stream for direct services for sexual assault victims, as well as provide resources for state sexual assault coalitions. Under this new program, funding will be distributed by the Department of Justice to states and their sexual violence coalitions. The formula grant funds will assist States and Tribes in their efforts to provide services to adult and minor sexual assault victims and their family and household members. In addition, a discretionary grant program for non-profit organizations serving Communities of Color is established. Grants can be used for general intervention and advocacy, including accompaniment though medical, criminal justice, and social support systems, support services, and related assistance. SASA funds can also be used to provide training and technical assistance relating to sexual assault for various organizations, including governments, law enforcement, courts, nonprofit organizations, faith-based
organizations, and professionals working in legal services, social services, and health care.
Funding level: $50 million for each of fiscal years 2007-2011.

Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking and Child Abuse Enforcement
Assistance
VAWA 2005 will expand the Rural Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Enforcement Assistance Program to address the needs of rural victims of sexual assault, stalking and dating violence.
Funding level: $55 million for each of fiscal years 2007-2011.
Distribution: Not less than 25% for services meaningfully address sexual assault in rural communities.

Rape Prevention and Education
VAWA 2005 reauthorizes the Rape Prevention and Education Grant Program with no substantive changes to the purpose area language. VAWA 2005 allots a minimum of $1,500,000 of the total funds made available in each fiscal year for RPE to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
Funding level: $80 million for each of fiscal years 2007-2011.

Grants to Reduce Violence Against Women on Campus
VAWA 2005 reauthorizes this program and increases the authorization to $15 million for each fiscal year 2006 through 2010. The funding is available for institutions of higher education to create collaborative groups to develop and strengthen effective security and investigation strategies to combat sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking; to develop and strengthen victim services; and to ensure access to justice for victims. It sets parameters for training of campus law enforcement and campus
judicial boards. VAWA 2005 also provides funds for technical assistance on Cleary Act reporting.
Funding level: $12 million for fiscal year 2007; $15 million for fiscal years 2008-2011.

Legal Assistance for Victims
VAWA 2005 will expand the civil legal assistance grants to allow LAV-funded project attorneys to represent victims in criminal matters to protect their civil rights. It allows for representation of adult and minor victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in matters that impact the victim's safety, privacy or rights, including: family, Tribal, Territorial, immigration, employment, economic
justice, administrative agency, housing, campus administrative, or protection or stay away order proceedings, and other similar matters, and criminal justice investigations, prosecutions, and post-trial matters.
Funding level: $65 million for each of fiscal years 2007-2011. Not less than 25 percent of appropriated
funds shall be used to support projects focused solely or primarily on providing legal assistance to victims
of sexual assault.

Forensic Examination Payments Fix
VAWA 2005 will clarify that in order for state and tribal governments to use STOP grant funds to pay for forensic medical exams for sexual assault victims, victims shall not be required to seek reimbursement from their insurance company. It also ensures that the victim must not be required to participate in the criminal justice system or cooperate with law enforcement in order to be provided with a forensic medical
exam or reimbursement for such exam.

Grants to Encourage Arrest – Protection Order Improvements
VAWA 2005 amends current law so that no later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of the Act, no law enforcement officer, prosecuting officer or other government official can ask or require an adult, youth or child victim of sexual assault to submit to a polygraph examination or other truth telling device as a condition for proceeding with the investigation of the crime. In addition, the refusal of a victim to submit to such an examination will not prevent the investigation of the crime.

Confidentiality and privacy protections
VAWA 2005 will amend grant programs to require grantees and subgrantees to protect the confidentiality and privacy of adult and minor victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and their families who are receiving or have received services at their programs.