Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women Hosts 20th Annual Tribal Consultation and Announces Awards of more than $75M in Grants to Support Public Safety in Indian[...]

On Jan. 21, 2026, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) convened the 20th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation on the lands of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Community in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. provided opening remarks in which he reaffirmed the Department of Justice's commitment to Indian Country and its dedication to protecting Tribal communities - particularly women and children - from violent crime, exploitation, and drug trafficking.

The Justice Department announced today that it awarded over $75 million through six grant programs that support American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and communities in combatting domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking, and stalking. The Tribal Affairs Division (TAD) of the OVW administers these funds.

The OVW fiscal year 2025 awards announced today are:

• The Tribal Governments Program
  • Nearly $47.5 million through 64 awards in support of efforts to combat domestic and sexual violence, trafficking, and stalking in Tribal communities.
• The Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Initiative
  • More than$3.3 million through three awards to cross-designate Tribal prosecutors as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys, to prevent violent offenders from causing more harm.
• The Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program
  • More than $8 million through 17 awards to establish, maintain, and expand assistance programs for sexual assault victims.
• The Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Program
  • More than $7 million through eight awards to protect victims of assault or abuse by non-Indian offenders and to bring criminals to justice.
• The Tribal Coalitions Program
  • More than $8 million awarded to 21 Tribal nonprofit coalitions to support organizations that serve victims in Tribal communities.
• The National Tribal Clearinghouse on Sexual Assault
  • One award of $980,100 to provide resources on effective responses to sexual assault of American Indian and Alaska Native women.

OVW administers grant programs designed to combat sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking. Tribal organizations and governments interested in applying for these and other grants can visit the OVW website for more details and application guidelines.