$1.4 Million Federal Grant to Help Local Law Enforcement

Some law enforcement agencies in our region are receiving more than $1.4 million in federal grant money, according to a news release from lawmakers in Washington.

The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, which supports state and local law enforcement in their efforts to prevent and control crime. U.S. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, both D-W.Va., and U.S. Rep Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., made the announcement Wednesday.

The award recipients are:

·                     The West Virginia Division of Justice and Community Services – $1,316,090. The funding will go toward the Division’s priority areas of violent crime and substance abuse. In particular, the funding will support several programs and services designed to increase awareness of drug and violent crime, and to reduce drugs use and violent criminal acts through prevention, education, and investigative efforts. The programs also aims to lessen the impact of sexual assaults and educate victims and those who serve them within the criminal justice system.

·                     The city of Charleston – $136,264. The funding will be used to purchase law enforcement equipment to increase officer and community safety.