Justice Department Commemorates National Stalking Awareness Month

The Justice Department joins survivors, victim services providers, justice professionals and others in recognizing the month of January as National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM). According to the CDC, an estimated one in three women and one in six men experience stalking in their lifetimes. This NSAM, the department reaffirms its commitment to survivors by honoring and providing resources to those leading efforts in supporting survivors and preventing stalking crimes.

Today the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), which provides grants to communities, and the Stalking Prevention Awareness and Resource Center (SPARC), held a virtual Strategies Showcase highlighting OVW grantees’ promising approaches to stalking investigations, services for survivors and training for law enforcement and prosecutors.

“The Justice Department is committed to using all its tools to address stalking,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Survivors need justice and safety, and communities require resources to respond and prevent this crime. OVW’s grantees play a critical role, providing essential services and justice solutions in their communities.”

With the prolific misuse of the internet and other forms of technology as weapons against stalking victims, today’s Strategies Showcase further emphasizes the White House’s priority to eradicate technology-facilitated violence. Last June, President Biden established the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse, an interagency effort to increase prevention, response and protection measures for survivors.

OVW will release new grant solicitations in the coming months to further address stalking, domestic violence, sexual assault and dating violence. Funds will support states, communities, institutions of higher education, tribes and victim service providers. OVW encourages applicants to visit the website for anticipated release dates and prepare their grants early. Additional resources for applicants and how to apply for OVW funding can be found on OVW’s website.

“OVW’s grant programs fund innovative and successful strategies to end stalking and other forms of gender-based violence,” said OVW Acting Director Allison Randall. “By encouraging a coordinated community response, these grant programs forge meaningful partnerships of on-the-ground service providers, culturally specific organizations and everyone who works daily to keep survivors safe.”

Created in 1995, OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of VAWA and subsequent legislation. OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.

The OVW-funded Stalking Prevention, Awareness & Resource Center (SPARC) offers training to service providers and justice professionals on keeping stalking survivors safe and holding offenders accountable.