Justice Department Awards FSU Federal Grant to Combat Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, & Stalking on Campus

Tallahassee, Florida - The Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women has awarded a $400,000 federal grant to Florida State University to support on-campus approaches to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. United States Attorney John P. Heekin highlighted the recently announced award following the conclusion of Domestic Violence Awareness Month that took place during October 2026.

U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin said: "October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but our efforts to provide safety, dignity, and justice to victims and survivors of domestic violence continue year-round. Through this critical investment of federal grant monies, we provide vital resources to FSU's on-campus programs that ensure victim safety and assistance while holding offenders accountable. Together, we can put an end to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus."

The award, paid through the Office on Violence Against Women Fiscal Year 2025 Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking On Campus Program, provides institutions of higher education the resources to establish multidisciplinary approaches to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campuses. The Campus Program supports comprehensive approaches designed to enhance victim services (including legal services), implement prevention and education programs, and develop and strengthen security and investigation strategies to prevent, prosecute, and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is committed to prosecuting those who violate federal laws, collaborating with local & campus law enforcement, and ensuring victims have access to the resources they need. By understanding the signs of abuse and connecting victims to resources, we can all play a role in creating safer communities. For more information on domestic violence or to access resources, please visit https://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence.

The Department of Justice funds essential victim services through its grantmaking. Grantees of OVW and the Department's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) run programs that support victims in the aftermath of domestic violence. There is help available, including the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), and the Strong Hearts Native Helpline, 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483). In addition, OVW's Resources for Victims and Survivors webpage lists national hotlines as well as state, territorial, and Tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions that can direct victims to local resources and services, as well as opportunities to get involved.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation's principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of FloridaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. website. For more information about the United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.