Part J - Privacy Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Violence, and Stalking

42 USC 14043b - Grants to protect the privacy and confidentiality of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking

The Attorney General, through the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women, may award grants under this part to States, Indian tribes, territories, or local agencies or nonprofit">nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations to ensure that personally identifying information of adult, youth, and child victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, and dating violence shall not be released or disclosed to the detriment of such victimized persons.

42 USC 14043b1 - Purpose areas

Grants made under this part may be used

(1) to develop or improve protocols, procedures, and policies for the purpose of preventing the release of personally identifying information of victims (such as developing alternative identifiers);

(2) to defray the costs of modifying or improving existing databases, registries, and victim notification systems to ensure that personally identifying information of victims is protected from release, unauthorized information sharing and disclosure;

(3) to develop confidential opt out systems that will enable victims of violence to make a single request to keep personally identifying information out of multiple databases, victim notification systems, and registries; or

(4) to develop safe uses of technology (such as notice requirements regarding electronic surveillance by government entities), to protect against abuses of technology (such as electronic or GPS stalking), or providing training for law enforcement on high tech electronic crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

42 USC 14043b2 - Eligible entities

Entities eligible for grants under this part include

(1) jurisdictions or agencies within jurisdictions having authority or responsibility for developing or maintaining public databases, registries or victim notification systems;

(2) nonprofit">nonprofit nongovernmental victim advocacy organizations having expertise regarding confidentiality, privacy, and information technology and how these issues are likely to impact the safety of victims;

(3) States or State agencies;

(4) local governments or agencies;

(5) Indian tribal governments or tribal organizations;

(6) territorial governments, agencies, or organizations; or

(7) nonprofit">nonprofit nongovernmental victim advocacy organizations, including statewide domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions.

42 USC 14043b3 - Grant conditions

Applicants described in paragraph (1) and paragraphs (3) through (6) shall demonstrate that they have entered into a significant partnership with a State, tribal, territorial, or local victim service or advocacy organization or condition in order to develop safe, confidential, and effective protocols, procedures, policies, and systems for protecting personally identifying information of victims.

42 USC 14043b4 - Authorization of appropriations

(a) In general
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011.

(b) Tribal allocation
Of the amount made available under this section in each fiscal year, 10 percent shall be used for grants to Indian tribes for programs that assist victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault.

(c) Technical assistance and training
Of the amount made available under this section in each fiscal year, not less than 5 percent shall be used for grants to organizations that have expertise in confidentiality, privacy, and technology issues impacting victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking to provide technical assistance and training to grantees and non-grantees on how to improve safety, privacy, confidentiality, and technology to protect victimized persons.