Effects of Interactions among Community Agencies on Legal System Responses to Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in Stop-Funded Communities

Abstract

The STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grants Program is a federal funding stream that promotes institutionalized system change in communities, such that women victims of violent crime can encounter a supportive and effective response from the criminal and civil justice systems and from victim service (VS) programs. This analysis assesses the degree to which receipt of STOP funding for nonprofit VS programs and state-level STOP program support for collaboration has led to greater community interaction and legal system outcomes. It also examines whether types of interaction among community agencies are related to post-STOP legal system responses to victims. Changed interactions among nonprofit VS programs, law enforcement, and prosecution staff members seem to lead to changes in the legal system's approach to handling domestic violence and sexual assault cases. They also assist communities in meeting the needs of victims.

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