​​​​​​​Beshear administration is focused on healing survivors, obtaining justice, ending domestic violence

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 5, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that applications are available for more than $2 million in federal funding through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to help stop sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking in Kentucky.

The federal VAWA Services, Training, Officers, Prosecution (STOP) Formula Grant Program requires administrating agencies to allocate funding for law enforcement, prosecutors, victim services and state and local courts. It also allows for discretionary distribution and encourages a focus on projects that serve adults and youth (ages 11-17 years) who are victims of intimate partner violence.

In July, the 2023 Kentucky Domestic Violence Data Report was released indicating that 1 in 2 women and 1 in 3 men in Kentucky have experienced domestic violence. When comparing the 2023 report to the previous year, there were more emergency protective orders served by the Kentucky State Police; law enforcement filed more electronic JC3 forms, which are completed upon responding to a report of domestic violence, dating violence or abuse to track incidents and arrests and assist victims with filing for emergency protective orders; and ZeroV, the state's coalition of domestic violence shelters, received more calls to its hotline for assistance.

“My administration is doing everything possible to hold offenders accountable and to provide the support that survivors deserve," said Gov. Beshear. “Since 2019, we have awarded nearly $11 million in VAWA grant funding and we will stay focused on this issue until every Kentuckian is safe from abuse."

“We are proud to be able to award more of this federal funding to organizations as we work to expand access to domestic violence prevention resources across Kentucky, and we encourage any eligible organization to apply," said Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Keith Jackson. “Let's work together to make sure our children are safe from sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking."

Applications must be submitted online by 6 p.m. EDT on Friday, Sept. 13, via Intelligrants 10.0 (IGX), the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet's electronic grants management system. Assistance with the application process may be obtained by contacting Grants Management staff at JUSIGX@ky.gov. Awards are expected to be announced in December.

Since taking office, the Beshear-Coleman administration has awarded more than $133 million in grant funding to victim service agencies across the commonwealth. In April, the Governor announced an additional $15 million in grant funding to support victims of crime under the federal Victims of Crime Act program, known as VOCA, and awards are expected to be announced in September.

In November, the Governor announced that, to improve outcomes for survivors, the executive, judicial and legislative branches, as well as the Kentucky State Police (KSP), Department of Corrections, Administrative Office of the Courts, the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet's Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center and ZeroV would partner with the CSG Justice Center. This is the council's largest statewide domestic violence data project. The group will analyze domestic violence data and then make policy recommendations to improve services and prevent victimization. This project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 at no cost to Kentuckians.

In April, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 319, increasing award amounts, expanding reimbursement categories and adding caregivers to the persons eligible for reimbursement from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund. On July 15, the maximum amount for compensation increased from $30,000 to $50,000; lost wages awards increased from $300 per week to $500 per week; and funeral expense reimbursement increased from $7,500 to $10,000. In addition to increased award amounts, new categories including relocation services, temporary housing, wellness practices, tattoo removal for victims of human trafficking, crime scene cleanup, repair of windows and locks, reimbursement of items seized as evidence and expenses to attend court proceedings will be eligible for reimbursement.

The KSP Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) investigative team was formed in July 2021 after the U.S. Department of Justice awarded $1.5 million to the commonwealth to leverage existing investigative resources within the KSP Crime Lab by transitioning investigators and a criminal intelligence analyst from the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General to KSP. The team works with victims, law enforcement partners, prosecutors and community partners to provide enhanced investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases.

In October of last year, Gov. Beshear announced that an additional $2.5 million from the U.S. Department of Justice had been awarded to the KSP SAKI investigative team to enhance its critical work by hiring additional personnel dedicated to testing sexual assault kits and improving sexual assault data collection to better identify predators. This funding was the second-largest award in the history of the commonwealth from the department's Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Get Help Now If you have experienced domestic violence and need support or information about available services, remember: You are not alone. Kentucky's domestic violence programs and shelters are open 24/7 and are safe for survivors and their families to receive emergency shelter and supportive services. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence and needs assistance, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 800-799-SAFE or clicking here.

You can reach out to the 24-hour Rape Crisis Line at 800-656-HOPE (4673) to connect with a sexual assault service provider near you or contact your local KSP Post to connect with a victim advocate.

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