OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Domestic Violence Mentor Court Technical Assistance Initiative - Solicitation

This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C.§ 12291(b)(11). The primary purpose of the OVW Training and Technical Assistance (TA) Initiative is to provide direct TA to existing and potential grantees and sub-grantees to enhance and support their efforts to successfully implement projects supported by OVW grant funds. OVW’s TA Initiative is designed to build the capacity of justice system professionals and victim service organizations to respond effectively to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and foster partnerships among organizations that have not traditionally worked together to address these crimes. For additional information about this program and related performance measures, including how awards contribute to the achievement of program goals and objectives, see:

OVW grant program information: OVW Grants and Programs Webpage.
Program performance measures under the Measuring Effectiveness Initiative: VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative webpage.
Program-specific sections in OVW’s most recent report to Congress on the effectiveness of VAWA grant programs.

About the OVW Domestic Violence Mentor Courts Technical Assistance Initiative

Specialized courts can be an efficient structure for addressing domestic violence. As domestic violence courts continue to develop across the country, jurisdictions developing specialized courts routinely seek examples for best practices. Since FY 2013, OVW has been engaged in efforts to develop and disseminate best practices for domestic violence courts by funding mentor court sites.

The OVW Domestic Violence Mentor Court Technical Assistance Initiative (Mentor Court Initiative) creates a unique opportunity to recognize well-established specialized courts and enable them to guide novice or developing courts and court-based programs that wish to significantly improve their responses to domestic violence cases and ensure victim safety and offender accountability. These well-established courts successfully serve as national models and share their expertise by hosting site visits, linking courts with peers facing similar challenges, and assisting other domestic violence courts to implement best practices to respond effectively to these difficult cases.