OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program (ICJR Program)

The Office on Violence Against Women within the U.S. Department of Justice administers the Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program, commonly referred to as the ICJR Program. This federal initiative is designed to support systemic improvements in how criminal justice systems respond to gender-based violence. The program reflects a long-standing federal commitment to treating domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking as serious violations of criminal law, while simultaneously prioritizing victim safety, autonomy, and access to justice. Through this program, the Office on Violence Against Women distributes funding to eligible entities to strengthen coordinated community responses and improve accountability for offenders. The primary purpose of the ICJR Program is to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, and victim service organizations in addressing violent crimes against individuals. Funded activities are intended to improve offender accountability, reduce homicides related to domestic violence, and ensure consistent enforcement of protection orders. The program encourages collaboration among criminal justice stakeholders, including police departments, prosecutors, judges, and victim advocacy groups, to create a unified and trauma-informed response. Projects supported under this program must align with these objectives and demonstrate how they will improve system-wide outcomes for victims and communities. Funding provided through this program supports a range of allowable activities, including training for law enforcement and court personnel, development of specialized prosecution units, implementation of evidence-based practices, and strengthening of coordinated community response frameworks. Funds may also be used to enhance victim services that are closely linked to criminal justice processes. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, which lowers barriers to entry for eligible applicants and allows jurisdictions with limited resources to participate fully. Applicants must adhere to federal grant requirements and ensure that all proposed expenditures align with program goals and allowable cost guidelines. Eligibility for this program is broad but specific to entities involved in the criminal justice and victim services systems. Eligible applicants include state governments, units of local government such as cities and counties, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, state and territorial domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, courts, and nonprofit victim service providers with 501(c)(3) status. The program emphasizes collaboration, and applicants are often expected to demonstrate partnerships across agencies and disciplines. Additional eligibility clarification indicates that applicants must be directly involved in or connected to criminal justice or victim service systems addressing the targeted crimes. The application process is conducted through the federal grants system and requires submission by the stated deadline. While the synopsis does not detail all application components, applicants typically must provide a comprehensive project narrative, budget justification, and supporting documentation demonstrating capacity and partnerships. The closing date for applications is August 18, 2026, and submissions must be completed by that deadline to be considered. Applicants may contact the Office on Violence Against Women for technical assistance or clarification regarding program requirements via email or phone. The program anticipates awarding approximately 67 grants with a total estimated funding pool of 36 million dollars. Individual awards range from a minimum of 400,000 dollars to a maximum of 1,500,000 dollars, depending on the scope and scale of proposed projects. While the performance period is not specified in the synopsis, such federal programs typically span multiple years to allow for meaningful implementation and evaluation. The ICJR Program is part of a recurring federal funding stream aimed at continuous improvement of criminal justice responses, suggesting that similar opportunities may be available in future fiscal cycles.