text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Domestic Violence Courts Assistance 
  Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      The Congress finds the following:
              (1) Nearly one-third of American women report being 
          physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some 
          point in their lives.
              (2) Family violence costs the nation between $5,000,000,000 
          and $10,000,000,000 each year in medical expenses, police and 
          court costs, shelters and foster care, sick leave, absenteeism, 
          and nonproductivity.
              (3) The Nation's first specialized domestic violence court 
          was established in Chicago in the early 1980s to centralize the 
          prosecution of domestic violence offenders.
              (4) There are presently more than 300 domestic violence 
          courts in at least 23 States nationwide.
              (5) Specialized domestic violence courts in several 
          communities have resulted in cutting the processing time of 
          domestic violence, reducing a backlog of existing domestic 
          violence cases and raising the conviction rate.
              (6) Specialized domestic violence courts allow judges, 
          prosecutors and defense attorneys to focus on the intricacies 
          of domestic violence cases, especially with regards to repeat 
          offenders.
  
  SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT SYSTEMS FROM AMOUNTS 
                AVAILABLE FOR GRANTS TO COMBAT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
  
      (a) In General.--Part T of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
  Streets Act of 1968 (relating to grants to combat violent crimes 
  against women) is amended as follows:
              (1) Purposes for which grants may be used.--Section 2001(b) 
          of that Act (42 U.S.C. 3796gg(b)) is amended--
                      (A) in paragraph (10), by striking ``and'' at the 
                  end;
                      (B) in paragraph (11), by striking the period at 
                  the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                      (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                  paragraph:
              ``(12) providing the resources to establish and maintain a 
          court system dedicated to the adjudication of domestic violence 
          cases, including providing such resources as--
                      ``(A) prosecutors and court personnel, including 
                  those who perform interpretation and translation 
                  services;
                      ``(B) technical assistance and counseling;
                      ``(C) training of attorneys, judges, and court 
                  personnel, including those who perform interpretation 
                  and translation services (which should be carried out 
                  in consultation with local domestic violence advocates, 
                  State domestic violence coalitions, or both);
                      ``(D) technological improvements and data 
                  collection; and
                      ``(E) improvement of court facilities, including 
                  the creation of safe waiting areas and improved 
                  security.''.
              (2) Qualification for funds.--Section 2002(c)(3)(C) of that 
          Act (42 U.S.C. 3796gg-1(c)(3)(C)) is amended by inserting after 
          ``including juvenile courts'' the following: ``and specialized 
          domestic violence courts''.
      (b) Attorney General Report.--Not later than thirty days after the 
  expiration of the third fiscal year beginning after the date of the 
  enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit to Congress a 
  report on the implementation and effectiveness of the amendments made 
  by subsection (b), including the effectiveness of grants made under 
  such amendments in reducing the rates of domestic violence and 
  shortening the period of judicial review in domestic violence cases.
      (c) State Justice Institute.--Section 206(c) of the State Justice 
  Institute Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10705(c)) is amended--
              (1) in paragraph (14) by striking ``and'';
              (2) in paragraph (15) by striking the period at the end and 
          inserting a semicolon; and
              (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
              ``(16) implement and evaluate court-based approaches to 
          adjudicating domestic violence cases in State courts, 
          including--
                      ``(A) domestic violence courts;
                      ``(B) integrated case management information 
                  systems;
                      ``(C) collaborations among courts, law enforcement 
                  agencies, social service agencies, women's shelters, 
                  and victims of crime support organizations; and
                      ``(D) any other innovative practices likely to 
                  improve the criminal justice system's response to 
                  domestic violence; and
              ``(17) provide technical assistance to State courts to 
          facilitate the development and adoption of improved practices 
          in the adjudication of domestic violence cases.''.
      (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
  appropriated to carry out paragraphs (16) and (17) of section 206(c) of 
  the State Justice Institute Act of 1984, as added by subsection (c), 
  $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2008.
target: Domestic Violence Courts Assistance Act - Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (relating to grants to combat violent crimes against women) to allow such grants to be used to provide the resources to establish and maintain a court system dedicated to the adjudication of domestic violence cases.
  
  Requires a State to certify that at least five percent of grant funds shall be allocated for specialized domestic violence courts. Amends the State Justice Institute Act of 1984 to allow funds available pursuant to grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts awarded under the Act to be used to: (1) implement and evaluate court-based approaches to adjudicating domestic violence cases in State courts; and (2) provide technical assistance to State courts to facilitate the development and adoption of improved practices in such adjudication.
feat_title: To authorize the establishment of domestic violence court systems from amounts available for grants to combat violence against women.