OVW FY 2017 Restorative Justice Response to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Dating Violence on Campus Demonstration Initiative Program | OVW 2017 12020

Opportunity Information: Apply for OVW 2017 12020

The OVW FY 2017 Restorative Justice Response to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Dating Violence on Campus Demonstration Initiative Program was a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), designed to help colleges and universities pilot or strengthen restorative justice (RJ) approaches for responding to campus sexual assault, domestic violence, and dating violence. The central idea behind the initiative is that while campuses have typically relied on student conduct processes and, in some cases, the criminal legal system, many survivors want additional options that feel safer, more respectful, and more responsive to their needs. OVW framed RJ as a promising strategy to address persistent underreporting, especially given evidence that survivors often choose not to report beyond friends or relatives due to concerns about confidentiality and fears of being blamed, treated poorly, or punished.

In this opportunity, restorative justice is described as a structured practice that focuses on repairing harm to the victim and to the broader community, rather than centering solely on punishment or rule enforcement. OVW emphasized that RJ can be used as a new framework or integrated into existing campus processes, with the intent of expanding survivor-centered pathways to accountability. At the same time, the program description makes clear that RJ is not meant to replace efforts to improve campus adjudication and criminal justice responses; instead, it is positioned as an additional, potentially complementary option that may lower barriers to coming forward and allow survivors greater autonomy in choosing what kind of response they want.

The program highlights several core principles that any effective campus RJ model should reflect. First, it prioritizes healing and survivor autonomy, meaning participation must be voluntary for victims and driven by what the survivor identifies as needed to address the harm. Second, it seeks meaningful accountability and behavioral change for the person who caused harm, requiring that the offender participate willingly and actively in the process of making things right. Third, it aims to improve campus safety and address community-level impacts, recognizing that these forms of violence affect peers, classrooms, residence halls, and the overall sense of safety and trust on campus. Finally, it acknowledges confidentiality concerns as a major factor in underreporting and suggests RJ may offer a pathway that better aligns with survivors fears about being exposed, disbelieved, or retraumatized.

OVW also outlined what RJ can look like in practice and what is required for it to be implemented responsibly in cases involving sexual assault, domestic violence, and dating violence. Examples of RJ formats mentioned include facilitated circles or family group discussions, community boards or panels that involve a third party, and victim-offender dialogues. The opportunity stresses that these approaches require skilled facilitation and, critically, facilitators who understand the dynamics of sexual assault, domestic violence, and dating violence, including trauma and safety issues. This reflects an expectation that grantees would not treat RJ as a generic conflict resolution model, but as a specialized, carefully designed response that accounts for power imbalances, coercion, ongoing safety risks, and the possibility of retraumatization if poorly handled.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number OVW 2017 12020) offered grant funding with an award ceiling of $500,000 and anticipated making one award. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The opportunity was categorized under community development and education (CFDA 16.028), was posted on January 13, 2017, and had an original closing date of February 24, 2017. Overall, the grant was framed as a demonstration initiative, meaning OVW was looking to support a model implementation that could yield lessons, practices, and evidence about how restorative justice can be applied carefully and effectively to campus-based sexual and relationship violence, while keeping survivor choice, safety, and accountability at the center.

• The Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women in the community development, education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVW FY 2017 Restorative Justice Response to Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Dating Violence on Campus Demonstration Initiative Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.028.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 13, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 24, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for OVW 2017 12020

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