Governor Rell: Stimulus Funds to Enable

Domestic Violence Shelters to Stay Open 24/7

Prosecutor Positions to be Preserved

      Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that federal stimulus funds coming to Connecticut will enable state domestic violence shelters to stay open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The state has officially notified the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) that $1 million in federal stimulus funding will be used to expand hours at CCADV member domestic violence shelters across the state.  In addition, the state has been awarded $545,000 in federal stimulus funding to preserve five domestic violence prosecutor positions in Connecticut.   

            “This funding will enable Connecticut to make great strides on both sides of the domestic violence equation – prevention and prosecution,” Governor Rell said. “Providing 24-hour, seven-day-a-week staffing at domestic violence shelters has long been a shared goal.  At the same time, these stimulus dollars will enable us to continue to dedicate key resources toward prosecuting these crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”

            The grants to be funded by the stimulus funds are:

• Expanding Staff at Domestic Violence Shelters ($1,000,000): This funding will add the equivalent of ten full-time staffers at five sites selected by CCADV.
• Preserving five domestic violence prosecutors ($545,000):  This funding will preserve five full-time domestic violence prosecutors at the following locations:  Hartford Judicial District (2), Ansonia/Milford Judicial District, Stamford Judicial District and the Windham Judicial District.

“I am proud of the advances our state is making in preventing domestic violence, including passing a new law that eliminates the statute of limitations in rape cases where DNA evidence is available,” Governor Rell said.  “Yet there is always more we can do.  For example, we will be focusing on emerging threats such as the use of cell phones and other digital devices to abuse young people.  There is a growing problem involving the distribution of sexually explicit photos or videos of teens taken with webcams and cell phones, and federal stimulus funds will help us to address that disturbing trend.”

The following additional victim services programs to be funded by the stimulus funds and begin early next year are:

• Teen Dating Violence Outreach: As many as 1-in-3 teens experience dating violence yet two-thirds of them will never report it. This funding will pay for separate media campaigns to inform parents and teens of the risks, warning signs and resources available; develop an interactive DVD training program; provide training to schools and teachers; and develop a classroom curriculum to educate students about their rights and resources.
• Competitive Grant Program for Prevention of Abuse in a Digital World: This funding will be awarded on a competitive basis to programs offering training in the prevention of abuse involving cell phone cameras, the Internet and other high-tech devices.
• Competitive Grant Program for Outreach to Underserved Populations: Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis to community organizations and others for sexual assault and domestic violence programs conducted among minority and other underserved populations. These “culturally competent” programs would be specifically geared to connect with people who might not be reached through traditional outreach campaigns.

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