Washington, D.C. – Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today congratulated Tucson’s Southwest Center for Law and Policy for receiving a $230,000 grant from the Department of Justice (DOJ). The money will be used to create or retain jobs focused on providing legal and social services to Native American domestic violence victims.

The money comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through DOJ’s Department’s Office on Violence Against Women.

“Targeted grants like this mean a great deal to the recipients and their communities, and they’re being made all over the country every day,” Grijalva said. “Domestic violence is not an issue we can afford to ignore. Allowing groups like the Center to reduce services in a bad economy, when such violence increases, would be a terrible mistake.”

The Center focuses on technical assistance to Native American governments. Among other projects, it hosts the National Tribal Trial College, which provides free legal training for attorneys, judges, law enforcement and Tribal members on domestic violence, sexual assault and other legal and social issues.
“This money will not only be good for the economy, but good for the social fabric of Southern Arizona’s Native American community,” Grijalva said. “I congratulate the Center for pursuing and receiving this grant.”

For more information, call the Southwest Center for Law and Policy at (520) 623-8192.