In July 1997, the City of Independence first accepted the Grant to Encourage Arrest Policies from the U.S. Department of Justice.  The grant program is now called Improving Criminal Justice Response (ICJR) to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking.  This grant is authorized by the Violence Against Women Act, as reauthorized, codified at 34 U.S.C. 10461-10465, and implemented through regulations at 28 C.F.R. Part 90, Subpart D.  The program enhances victim safety and offender accountability in cases of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by encouraging jurisdictions to work collaboratively with community partners to identify problems and share ideas that will result in effective responses to these crimes.  An integral component of this program is the creation and enhancement of a coordinated community response that brings together criminal justice agencies, victim service providers, and community organizations that respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

The current grant award will partially fund one full-time Domestic Violence Detective in the Police Department, a part-time Domestic Violence Prosecutor for the City of Independence, two Court Advocates and several support positions at Hope House, as well as travel associated with training, and some supplies for Hope House.  The total award amount is $750,000 over a four year grant period and does not require a local match. The grant period will run October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2024.