Sexual Assault Services Program

The Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) is a federally funded initiative administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) through a reimbursement-based model. Established under the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005, SASP is designed to support rape crisis centers and other nonprofit, nongovernmental, or tribal organizations that provide direct intervention and assistance to victims of sexual assault. This assistance is extended without age restriction and includes support for family members and others impacted by sexual assault, excluding perpetrators. SASP funds must be used to establish, maintain, and expand victim services, specifically targeting adult, youth, and child survivors. These services may include 24-hour hotlines, medical and legal accompaniment, advocacy within social support systems, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, coordinated service plans, culturally specific outreach, and the distribution of informative materials. The program places a strong emphasis on reaching underserved communities and those impacted by human trafficking where sexual assault is also involved. Eligible costs also include emergency victim support through direct payments to third-party vendors for needs such as housing, transportation, childcare, and security improvements. The 2025 SASP application is available through the IntelliGrants portal, and all submissions must be made electronically. Applicants must register in the system and meet prequalification requirements, including a valid Unique Entity ID and active SAM registration. Additional documentation such as a sustainability plan, timeline, job descriptions, letters of community endorsement, and federal compliance certifications must be submitted alongside the application. Funding for the 2025 grant cycle totals approximately $1.2 million, with individual awards ranging from $30,000 to $100,000. Administrative costs are allowable but capped at 10% of the total grant-funded budget. Projects are expected to begin January 1, 2025, and must conclude by December 31, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted, and all expenses must be paid and reported by the deadline. The application deadline is October 31, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET. Applications will be reviewed based on completeness, compliance with federal and state requirements, eligibility, fiscal soundness, and alignment with program priorities. These priorities include enhancing access to justice, civil rights protections, rural victim services, and responses to trafficking-related sexual assault. Ineligible uses of funding include research, lobbying, media campaigns, general domestic violence services unrelated to sexual assault, training for non-project staff, and real estate or vehicle purchases. For questions about the application content, applicants can contact the ICJI Victim Services Division at victimservices@cji.in.gov. Technical issues should be directed to the ICJI Help Desk at CJIHelpDesk@cji.in.gov. All submissions must follow the provided guidelines to be considered for funding in the upcoming cycle.

Emphasize confidentiality, eligibility documentation, and alignment with allowable use categories; ensure no out-of-scope activities are included.