VAWA: The Money, its Impact and the Politics

• In Event: Policy Panel: Prospects for Criminal Justice Reform in the Trump Era - Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Funding

Abstract

This presentation will discuss the funding VAWA has provided since its inception and how it has been utilized. It will review: (a) how the historic response to violence against women has changed because of the philosophy and ideology of VAWA; (b) how VAWA has been able to use its funding stream to ensure changes across systems and culture; (c) how VAWA has been an instrument for social and procedural justice; and (d) how it has ensured a culture of teaching and learning. Using this as a framework, it will present a discussion of ‘what’s happening with VAWA right now?’ based on interviews with OVW staff and Congressional leaders.

Author

• Sheetal Ranjan, William Paterson University