Grants to help fund programs

By CAITLIN SULLIVAN/Staff

More than $5.7 million was earmarked last week for criminal justice improvements across the state.
The money, a good bit of which is bound for the Southwest Virginia region, will fund projects help victims of domestic violence, among other things.
“Virginia is committed to ensuring that our criminal justice system is effective and responsive,” Gov. Tim Kaine said in a press release.
“These grants will enable localities and state agencies to support new and continuing programs addressing a wide range of public safety needs and issues across the Commonwealth.”
The grants will be used to strengthen programs for criminal justice professionals, increase resources for the investigation and prosecution of crimes against women and improve services to the victims, upgrade criminal history data systems, enhance juvenile delinquency prevention and support the state’s terrorism prevention planning and resource efforts, according to the press release.
Southwest Virginia received more than $325,000 in federal and matching local grants.
Abingdon-based People Inc. of Southwest Virginia applies for the grant every year. It uses the funds to help fund court advocacy services for victims of domestic violence in Russell and Buchanan counties. In 2006, the groups court advocacy services served 82 victims in those counties. As of Nov. 30, it had served 59.
“For the average person going to court can be a terrifying experience and then to have to go and tell some the personal if helps to have support and know the language of the court,” said Director of Community Services Linda Midgett. “It’s an educational program.”
Washington County Sheriff’s Office also received a $27,594 federal grant, matched with $20,626 of local funds, for a deputy specializing in domestic violence.
Maj. Blake Andis at the Washington County Sheriffs Office said some of the responsibilities of the domestic violence officer is to investigate domestic violence and connect victims with aid organizations.
Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society received $8,897 in federal funds for Project Open Door. Executive Director Larry Harley said Legal Aid has received this grant to assist victims of domestic violence for about 10 years.
“We hope to open the door out of the abusive situation and open the door into the courthouse,” Harley said.
He said they used the funds to help provide lawyers to represent low-income people who are victims. Project Open Door helps about 60 people a year in District 3, he said.
Smyth County received $50,802 in federal funds matched with $16,934 in local funds for Criminal Justice Record Systems Improvement.
For more information on Legal Aid call (888) 201-2772.
The Department of Criminal Justice Services administers the grant programs.  The department’s Criminal Justice Services Board reviewed and approved them during its December meeting.
The 140 grants awarded come from four different federal funding sources:  Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program, Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Title II and the Violence Against Women’s Act.  In total, the board approved $4,241,207 in federal funds and $1,532,264 in local matches.