A Proposal to Develop an Online Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Data Resource Center

The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 specified that a study be conducted on (how the States may collect centralized data bases on the incidence of sexual and domestic violence offenses). As a result, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) asked the Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA) to undertake a study of domestic and sexual violence incident data collection by the States. In response to this request, JRSA produced two reports: Domestic and Sexual Violence Data Collection (July 1996) and Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Data Collection Systems in the States (October 1999). The information in the October 1999 report is outdated. The proposed project entails the updating of the information in the October1999 report as well as the provision of updated information on a project-specific Web site that will include a searchable database. JRSA plans to update the report by surveying State Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) directors in order to gather information about data collection efforts and managers of statewide data systems; following-up with SAC-identified managers to determine the status of the data collection efforts; and contacting domestic violence and sexual assault coalition directors in each state to identify victim-based data collection systems. ca/ncf