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US Department of Justice Awards More Than $8M in Domestic Violence Grants to Oklahoma

Matt Trotter
/
KWGS

The U.S. Department of Justice is sending money to Oklahoma to combat domestic violence.

"Oklahoma is receiving more than $8 million in domestic violence grants that are going to go to assist victims of domestic violence, to support recovery and to help us end this cycle of violence," said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma Trent Shores.

Tribes, cities and nonprofits offering services to survivors are in line for funding.

Tulsa County District Court will get almost $450,000 to set up a docket to keep tabs on convicted domestic abusers, and the City of Tulsa will get $750,000 for a variety of initiatives, including a specialized prosecution unit.

Four Oklahoma tribes will get more than $3 million total for community programs to prevent violence against women.

Alisa, a domestic violence survivor, shared her story to illustrate the difference additional funding can make. She was kidnapped by her ex-husband, whom she had filed a protective order against, and was sure he was going to kill her.

Alisa said she survived the ordeal because she got him to believe she would remarry him. She was able to text two friends about it, a practice recommended to her by Domestic Violence Intervention Services.

Police tracked her cell phone and found her and her ex-husband in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

"There were 28 domestic violence warriors who went to battle for me. It takes more than two. It took 28, and there’s more that I could go on," Alisa said. "A few people were already in my life, but most were fighting because of the funding that you’ve made available to investigate, prevent, prosecute domestic violence offenders, and to provide services for survivors like me."

Alisa’s ex-husband was convicted in federal court but was granted a retrial upon appeal.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.
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