The Domestic Violence Lethality Assessment Project for First Responders

The Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Program: National Initiatives, administered by the Office of Justice Programs' Bureau of Justice Assistance, furthers the Department's mission by assisting state and local jurisdictions in improving the criminal justice system and assisting communities in preventing drug abuse and crime. In FY 2008, the program will focus on funding local, regional, and national efforts within five major categories: 1) preventing crime and drug abuse; 2) enhancing local law enforcement; 3) enhancing local courts; 4) enhancing local corrections and offender reentry; and 5) facilitating justice information sharing.

The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) will use the grant funds to provide train-the-trainer instruction and technical assistance to law enforcement and community-based agencies that implement MNADV's Domestic Violence Lethality Assessment Program for First Responders (LAP). This project addresses the goals of category 1: preventing crime and drug abuse by encouraging law enforcement and community-based domestic violence service programs to build partnerships to collaboratively respond to victims who are at high risk for becoming homicide victims. The goals of this project provide LAP implementation instruction, technical assistance, and program evaluation to partner agencies that are chosen through an application process to implement the LAP in their own communities. Critical components of the project will be: 1) LAP promotional packet, including an application for this training opportunity; 2) informational teleconference; 3) LAP start-up kit; 4) LAP implementation training; 5) on-site and off-site technical assistance; 6) evaluation of the quality of the services and effectiveness of LAP implementation; and 7) a final report.

CA/NCF