GOVERNOR KAINE ANNOUNCES $33.8 MILLION IN GRANTS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

June 26, 2009

Contact:                 Lynda Tran
Phone:                   (804) 225-4806
Cell Phone:           (804) 317-1505
Internet:                www.governor.virginia.gov

Eileen Guertler                                                                   
DCJS                                                                                    
(804) 225-4111                                                                   
http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov                                                        

Janice Waddy
DCJS
(804) 786-4011
http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov


RICHMOND—Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced 162 grants worth more than $33 million have been awarded to support programs to improve criminal justice services throughout the Commonwealth.

              “These grants will enable localities and state agencies to support new and continuing activities to ensure that our criminal justice system remains effective and responsive,” Governor Kaine said.  “I am extremely pleased that many of these grants will aid and promote the economic recovery effort in Virginia.”

  Approved grants will fund local community corrections and pretrial services programs, offender re-entry and transition services, services for offenders with substance abuse, services for crime victims and witnesses, sexual assault victims’ services, and juvenile justice and delinquency prevention programs.   

The resources to support the grants were provided by federal funds allocated to Virginia that include the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and by state funds appropriated by the General Assembly. The Department of Criminal Justice Services Criminal Justice Services Board, the policy board appointed by the Governor to act on matters affecting the criminal justice system in Virginia, reviewed and approved the grants. The Department of Criminal Justice Services administers the grant programs.   

Fifty-six grants were supported by funds from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.  For more information regarding grant opportunities with DCJS, go to http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/grants.