Violence Against Women Act

Campus Obligations under Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

What is VAWA?

On March 7, 2013, President Obama signed into federal law the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA), which is aimed at improving how colleges and universities in the U.S. address sexual violence. This new law imposes obligations for the District to revise its policy and practices to comply with new regulations that addresses and prohibits acts of violence such as, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, and it clarifies the rights of victims. The new regulations also include:

Reporting campus crime statistics beyond the crime categories that the Clery Act already mandates, to which now include incidents of domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, as well as crimes motivated by gender identity or national origin;
Providing comprehensive educational prevention and awareness programs for incoming students and new employees, in addition to ongoing prevention and awareness campaigns for students, faculty and employees that identifies and defines sexual assault, rape, acquaintance rape, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking; and
Conducting annual training for investigators and hearing officers who investigate and review reported offenses.

In 2022, President Biden signed into law the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022.

The 2022 reauthorization of VAWA strengthens this landmark law, including by:

Reauthorizing all current VAWA grant programs until 2027 and, in many cases, increasing authorization levels.
Expanding special criminal jurisdiction of Tribal courts to cover non-Native perpetrators of sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, sex trafficking, and assaults on tribal law enforcement officers on tribal lands; and supporting the development of a pilot project to enhance access to safety for survivors in Alaska Native villages.
Increasing services and support for survivors from underserved and marginalized communities—including for LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking; funding survivor-centered, community-based restorative practice services; and increasing support for culturally specific services and services in rural communities.
Establishing a federal civil cause of action for individuals whose intimate visual images are disclosed without their consent, allowing a victim to recover damages and legal fees; creating a new National Resource Center on Cybercrimes Against Individuals; and supporting State, Tribal, and local government efforts to prevent and prosecute cybercrimes, including cyberstalking and the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images.
Improving prevention and response to sexual violence, including through increased support for the Rape Prevention and Education Program and Sexual Assault Services Program; expansion of prevention education for students in institutions of higher education; and enactment of the Fairness for Rape Kit Backlog Survivors Act, which requires state victim compensation programs to allow sexual assault survivors to file for compensation without being unfairly penalized due to rape kit backlogs.
Strengthening the application of evidence-based practices by law enforcement in responding to gender-based violence, including by promoting the use of trauma-informed, victim-centered training and improving homicide reduction initiatives.
Improving the healthcare system’s response to domestic violence and sexual assault, including through enhanced training for sexual assault forensic examiners.
Updating the SMART Prevention Program and the CHOOSE Youth Program to reduce dating violence, help children who have been exposed to domestic violence, and engage men in preventing violence.
Enacting the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Denial Notification Act to help state law enforcement investigate and prosecute cases against individuals legally prohibited from purchasing firearms who try to do so.

In addition, both Title IX and VAWA legislation permits the District to assist both the victim and the accused with:

An investigation
Counseling and medical services
Choosing a support person to accompany them throughout proceedings
- Allowing the victim and the accused to attend different classes
Academic support services

View Gavilan College's 2024-25 VAWA Brochure here.