Governor Kaine Announces Grants to Improve Criminal Justice
December 20, 2007 | Virginia News
RICHMOND — Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced grants worth more than $5.7 million have been awarded to localities and state agencies to improve criminal justice throughout the Commonwealth.
“Virginia is committed to ensuring that our criminal justice system is effective and responsive,” Governor Kaine said. “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 fund projects to increase recruiting and retention programs for criminal justice professionals, increase resources for the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women, and improve services to the victims; upgrade criminal history data systems and other criminal justice-related information systems; enhance localities’ juvenile delinquency prevention and treatment capacity; and support the state’s terrorism prevention planning and resource efforts.
The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) administers the grant programs. DCJS’s Criminal Justice Services Board, the policy board appointed by the Governor to act on matters affecting the criminal justice system, 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 CJSB approved $4,241,207 in federal funds and $1,532,264 in local match for a total of $5,773,471.
For more information regarding grant opportunities with DCJS, go to www.dcjs.virginia.gov/grants. (contact: Janice Waddy - Grants Administrator, DCJS - 804.786.4011)
