Governor Martin O’Malley, joined by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown, Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, advocates, community leaders, families and friends of domestic violence victims, and other state and local officials, announced $2.2 million in awards to over 50 local organizations through the S*T*O*P (Services, Training, Officers and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). These federal funds are formula grants allocated from the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women that will assist organizations throughout the state that work to help women who are the victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence.
“The most important responsibilities we have in government are to create jobs and to protect the public’s safety,” said Governor O’Malley. “In Maryland, we have set the big goal to reduce violence against women and children 25 percent by the end of next year. Today’s funding from the federal Violence Against Women Act is an important resource in achieving that goal, helping organizations and advocates from across the State who work on the front lines every day to combat domestic violence. Though we are seeing decreases in the number of domestic violence-related deaths on record, even one life lost is one too many. Together, with our federal, state and local partners, we can continue to make progress in saving lives.”
The VAWA program is administered by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention (GOCCP) which provides funding to law enforcement, prosecution, the court system and non-profit, non-government victim service agencies. Recipients are encouraged to forge lasting partnerships between the criminal justice system and victim advocacy organizations, and to look beyond traditional resources by partnering with community and faith-based organizations to respond more vigorously to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking crimes.
Maryland’s Congressional delegation has been integral in securing these funds for Maryland.
“I have absolutely no tolerance for domestic violence,” said Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), who authored the Violence Against Women Act and, as Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, puts funds in the federal checkbook to fund federal VAWA efforts. “Maryland’s STOP program has proven a valuable resource in the fight to curb domestic violence. I was proud to put funds in the federal checkbook to support this important program that gives counselors, law enforcement officers and health care personnel the resources to serve victims of domestic violence.”
“Nearly three in four Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence, and these statistics permeate all socioeconomic, ethnic, racial, and religious groups in our nation,” said U.S. Senator Ben Cardin. “This funding will significantly enhance domestic violence prevention efforts and improve the criminal justice system’s response to violence against women.”
Congressman Steny Hoyer added, “I have long supported efforts to equip organizations serving battered women and their children as well as the law enforcement community with the resources needed to support victims and prosecute perpetrators. I am proud to support the STOP program and the women and men leading the cause against family violence.”
Attorney General Doug Gansler chairs the Governor’s Family Violence Co
