Federal funds to bolster legal advocacy and case management for survivors
The City of Rockford has secured a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women to expand services for survivors of domestic violence who are navigating the criminal justice system. The award, made through the Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response Program, will fund a 36-month effort led by the Mayor’s Office of Domestic and Community Violence Prevention in partnership with the Rockford Family Peace Center and the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office.
According to a city announcement, the funding will support dedicated criminal-legal advocates and case management staff attached to victim services. Those advocates will help survivors seeking criminal orders of protection, provide court advocacy, develop individualized safety plans and connect people with community resources. The goal is to ease survivors’ interactions with prosecutors and the court system while addressing safety and recovery needs.
How the program will work in Rockford
The grant is designed to bridge gaps that often arise for survivors during prosecutorial and court processes. Under the three-year arrangement, advocates funded by the grant will:
- Provide direct court advocacy for survivors pursuing criminal orders of protection.
- Offer safety planning and referrals to community services, including counseling and housing assistance.
- Deliver ongoing case management while survivors move through investigations, charging and court hearings.
City officials said the approach aims to improve survivors’ ability to navigate legal proceedings, reduce barriers to holding offenders accountable and enhance coordination among service providers and the justice system.
Partners and expected outcomes
The announcement identified three principal partners: the Mayor’s Office of Domestic and Community Violence Prevention, the Rockford Family Peace Center and the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office. The grant will fund personnel and services for 36 months, positioning the city and its partners to expand availability of legal advocacy that is often limited by resources.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Funding source | U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women |
| Program | Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response Program |
| Award amount | $500,000 |
| Project length | 36 months |
| Key partners | Mayor’s Office of Domestic and Community Violence Prevention; Rockford Family Peace Center; Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office |
Local service providers and prosecutors often confront resource constraints that can limit sustained advocacy and follow-up for survivors. By funding dedicated advocates and case managers, the grant aims to maintain continuity of support from the early stages of a criminal case through sentencing or other case resolutions.
Local context and why it matters
Domestic violence survivors commonly face multiple hurdles — from safety concerns to difficulties accessing legal help and navigating court procedures. Advocacy and case management are recognized practices for improving survivor safety and engagement with the justice system. In Rockford, that support will be provided by the Rockford Family Peace Center in coordination with the city and county prosecutor’s office.
City and nonprofit officials say connecting survivors to advocacy and services during criminal proceedings can help ensure requests for protective orders are supported, that survivors understand their rights and options, and that referrals to shelter, counseling or other resources are timely.
While the announcement did not provide a detailed breakdown of staffing levels or specific performance benchmarks, the city framed the grant as a way to expand access to court-based advocacy and long-term case management. Outcomes typically monitored in similar programs include the number of survivors served, petitions for orders of protection filed, service referrals completed and measures of victim safety and satisfaction.
As the program gets underway, city officials and partner agencies are expected to coordinate implementation plans, define reporting measures and make information available to community organizations that refer survivors to these services. The funding represents federal support for local efforts to strengthen the link between victim services and the criminal justice system in Rockford.
