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

• NCJ Number: 197059
• Author(s): Martha R. Burt; Janine M. Zweig; Cynthia Andrews; Ashley Van Ness; Neal Parikh; Brenda K. Uekert; Adele V. Harrell
• Date Published: September 2001
• Length: 243 pages
• Grant Number(s): 95-WT-NX-0005
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

The Services Training Officers Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Program is evaluated in this report, from its introduction in 1995 through March 2001, the sixth year of the program.

Abstract

Focusing on the progress and accomplishments of the STOP (Services Training Officers Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program to combat violence against women, this report discusses the program from its introduction through its sixth year. The last of a series of similar reports, this evaluation of the STOP program presents updated information drawn from an expanded database. A brief presentation of the highlights of this report is followed by tables recommending what needs to be done in the future of the STOP program. Details of this report begin with both an introduction to the Violence Against Women Act, an overview of how STOP funding has been spent since 1995, and an overview of the year 2000 report. A discussion of how funds are distributed across law enforcement, prosecution, and victim services is followed by a description of the patterns of awards among STOP Program projects. After highlighting criminal justice projects and interactions between communities and agencies receiving grants, this report focuses on issues related to sexual assault in the STOP program, arguing that State STOP agencies need to continue to fund separate victim services for sexual assault and domestic violence. Measuring the impact of the STOP subgrants on the criminal justice system as a whole, this report concludes that the STOP Program’s impact is difficult to measure because so many jurisdictions in various States are considered simultaneously. The authors conclude this report, recommending additional future funding for better data collection systems in order to document changes in the criminal justice system, following the implementation of STOP-Program funding grants. A brief listing of references is followed by 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 thorough discussion of each State’s individual STOP Program accomplishments comprises the bulk of the appendices, completing this report.