The Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program funding is designed to assist victims of violence with the protection and services they need to pursue safe and healthy lives, while improving communities' capacity to hold offenders accountable for their crimes. The program recognizes that sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are crimes that require the criminal justice system to hold offenders accountable for their actions through investigation and arrest of violent offenders and protection of victims.  
  
The program is designed to encourage partnerships between state, local and tribal government, courts, victim service providers, coalitions, and rape crisis centers, to ensure that sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are treated as serious violations of criminal law requiring the coordinated involvement of the entire criminal justice system and community based victim service organizations. The grant funding can provide services to identify problems, share ideas, and develop services that will result in new responses to insure victim safety and offender accountability.

Without funding, programs designed to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking could not be fully implemented in Contra Costa County.

The Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program meets two of the five Contra Costa County’s community outcomes: (4) "Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing"; and (5) "Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families" by ensuring children and families affected by interpersonal violence will receive appropriate support and follow-up services.