Keep the campus community safe by understanding the Violence Against Women Act
The Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA, is one part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. This act established a wide variety of grant programs and resources to support victims and survivors as they navigate reporting and prosecuting gender-based violence. This act was initially created to address the issues of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault. VAWA has been reauthorized multiple times since it was initially signed into law. This act has important legal consequences for repeat sex offenders, those guilty of interstate domestic violence, and for the rights of Native American Tribes to prosecute offenders.
This course offers a comprehensive introduction to VAWA and explores how higher education institutions are affected by it. Discover how higher education institutions leverage data through the Annual Security Report to gain insights into the prevalence and nature of VAWA-related issues. In this course, you'll learn about a landmark piece of legislation that is used across the United States to address and prevent gender-based violence. Law enforcement, victim services organizations, Native American tribes, and higher education institutions use the resources provided by VAWA, as well as its criminal and legal provisions.
Learning Objectives
- List the initial issues that VAWA addressed in 1994 and how they were addressed
- Define domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault
- Recognize the key changes made in each VAWA reauthorization
- Describe how VAWA and its reauthorizations affect higher education institutions
- Explain how universities can collect data for prevention and response efforts
Skills you’ll gain
Data CollectionWorkplace Violence Prevention And ResponseWhat You'll Learn
- List the initial issues VAWA addressed in 1994 and how they were addressed
- Define domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault
- Recognize the key changes made in each VAWA reauthorization
- Describe how VAWA and its reauthorizations affect higher education institutions
- Explain how universities can collect data for prevention and response efforts
- Identify the legal tools and provisions VAWA provides to combat gender-based violence
Key Takeaways
- The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is one part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.
- VAWA established a wide variety of grant programs and resources to support victims and survivors as they navigate reporting and prosecuting gender-based violence.
- VAWA was initially created to address domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault, and has been reauthorized multiple times.
- VAWA carries legal consequences for repeat sex offenders and those guilty of interstate domestic violence, and addresses the rights of Native American Tribes to prosecute offenders.
- Higher education institutions use the Annual Security Report to gain insights into the prevalence and nature of VAWA-related issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this course for?
The course is relevant to those connected with law enforcement, victim services organizations, Native American tribes, and higher education institutions, which use the resources, criminal provisions, and legal provisions provided by VAWA.
What does this course cover?
It offers a comprehensive introduction to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), including the issues it addressed in 1994, its reauthorizations, its legal tools and provisions, and how it affects higher education institutions, including data collection through the Annual Security Report.
What skills will I gain from this course?
The course develops skills in Data Collection and Workplace Violence Prevention and Response.
Does the course address how VAWA affects colleges and universities?
Yes. The course explores how higher education institutions are affected by VAWA and how universities can collect data through the Annual Security Report for prevention and response efforts, including lessons on crimes against women on campus and protecting Indigenous and immigrant students.
Does the course cover online or cyber-related offenses?
Yes. The course includes a lesson on Cybercrime and Cyberstalking.
Transcript
Show transcript (free preview lesson)
Transcript of the free preview lesson. Remaining lessons unlock with the full course.
Please be advised that this course will contain topics that may be triggering for some individuals, including violence, sexual assault, and murder. The Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA, is an essential piece of legislation that helps law enforcement, victim service organizations, and higher education institutions combat gender-based violence. In this course, we'll explore how this component of the 1994 crime bill addresses issues like domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault. We'll learn about VAWA's many grant programs and how their funding helps key stakeholders support victims and survivors as they navigate reporting and prosecuting gender-based violence. This course explores how these issues affect campuses nationwide, and how higher education institutions can use this act as a guideline for addressing, preventing, and punishing violent crimes. Indigenous and immigrant populations are disproportionately affected by these crimes, and this course explores how VAWA addresses these issues to support these populations. VAWA has been reauthorized multiple times since it was initially passed, and you'll learn how these reauthorizations focused on new forms of gender-based violence like cyberstocking and cybercrime. You'll learn about legal tools to combat gender-based violence, and will cover the importance of developments like ending forced arbitration for sexual assault and harassment cases. Whether you're an educator, student, administrator, or anyone passionate about building safer academic environments, this course will help you understand why VAWA was created and how it affects your community. Learn about the fight against gender-based violence and what obligations you may have under the Violence Against Women Act and its reauthorizations.
Learn on the Go
Take your learning anywhere — the KnowledgeCity mobile app lets you watch lessons on the go.