Legal Definitions - VAWA

VAWA stands for the Violence Against Women Act.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a landmark federal law in the United States designed to combat violence against women and, through subsequent reauthorizations, all victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Enacted in 1994, VAWA provides significant federal funding for programs and services aimed at preventing these forms of violence, protecting victims, and prosecuting offenders. It has been reauthorized multiple times, expanding its scope and strengthening protections, including provisions for immigrant victims and tribal jurisdictions.

Here are some examples of how VAWA applies:

• Funding for Victim Support Services: A local non-profit organization applies for and receives a federal grant to establish a new hotline and counseling services for survivors of sexual assault in their community. This funding allows them to hire trained counselors, provide emergency housing, and offer legal advocacy to victims who might otherwise lack access to such critical support.

  This illustrates VAWA because the Act provides the federal funding streams that enable community-based organizations to offer essential services like hotlines, shelters, and counseling to victims of violence.

• Enhanced Protections for Immigrant Victims: An individual who immigrated to the U.S. and is married to a U.S. citizen experiences severe domestic abuse. Fearing deportation if they report the abuse, they learn about VAWA's provisions that allow certain immigrant victims to "self-petition" for legal residency without the abuser's sponsorship, or to apply for a U-visa, which provides temporary legal status to victims of certain crimes who cooperate with law enforcement.

  This demonstrates VAWA's impact by showing how the law creates specific immigration protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes, ensuring that fear of deportation does not prevent them from seeking safety and justice.

• Improved Law Enforcement Training and Response: A state police academy updates its curriculum to include specialized training for officers on how to effectively respond to domestic violence calls, focusing on trauma-informed approaches, evidence collection in non-visible injury cases, and understanding the dynamics of coercive control. This training is partially funded by federal grants allocated through VAWA.

  This example highlights VAWA's role in improving the criminal justice system's response to violence. The Act provides resources and encourages best practices for law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts to better investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.