South Dakota's 25 domestic violence shelters will split about half of a $794,387 federal grant to combat violence against women.

Sen. John Thune's office announced the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grants from the U.S. Justice Department on Thursday.

The STOP grants are distributed through the state Department of Social Services, but about half of those funds come with the stipulation that it be spent for law enforcement and prosecution efforts on behalf of domestic violence, according to Kim Malsam-Rysdon, deputy secretary for DSS.

The Working Against Violence Inc. shelter in Rapid City received about $6,000 in STOP grants recently.

"We do get a small portion of that grant," WAVI program director Mary Corbine said. "We appreciate the STOP funding. We use it for our childrens' programs for kids in shelter."

Some of the STOP money goes toward shelters, police and court-related domestic violence costs on reservations in South Dakota, Malsam-Rysdon said.