Domestic Violence Prevention Advocates Claim Small Victory In Funding Battle

Domestic violence prevention advocates say they won a small victory Friday when state officials approved funding for prevention programs at the same dollar amount as last year.  But, more than $1 million is still being withheld as the state asks shelters to provide “additional information.”

The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, or CJI, is the state agency responsible for distributing domestic violence prevention funding via grants.  Its board of trustees Friday voted to provide $1.9 million to 42 programs around the state – funding those programs at the same level as last year.

But there’s still $1.1 million that’s been held back by the CJI.  Institute communications director Gary Abell says the agency needs more information from shelters about exactly how they would spend the additional money.

“So we don’t know, are you adding more staff, are you adding additional programming – what are you doing,” Abell said.

But Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence executive director Laura Berry says the grant proposals already submitted to the agency are very detailed and doesn’t understand what more is needed.

“We had plenty of time to address that in the request if we needed additional information or additional justification," Berry said. "So why now, all of a sudden, for this arbitrary amount?…I just don’t understand their justification.”

The CJI says it will provide guidance on exactly what additional information is needed by Monday.