Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin
September 23, 2021
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $8,569,669 from several grant programs through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to the state of West Virginia. Collectively, these grants will support efforts to combat sexual assault and domestic violence, compensate victims of crime, bolster state technology to foster innovation and enhance victims’ access to services, and support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime.
“Every West Virginian and American deserves to feel safe in their community, and I am pleased DOJ is investing in programs that provide support for victims, improve community responses to sexual assault and domestic violence and reduce and prevent crime across West Virginia. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for funding to support victims and prevent crime in West Virginia,” Senator Manchin said.
“Throughout my time in Congress, I have been committed to ensuring that resources are available to prevent crime, as well as support for victims of crime and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault,” Senator Capito said. “These experiences are incredibly traumatic, and I’m glad to see this critical funding coming to West Virginia to support victims, as well as bolster security, innovate technology, and provide leadership to prevent these atrocities from happening in our state.”
Individual awards listed below:
· $5,934,049 for the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security: Funding will be provided through the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) FY 2021 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program to enhance crime victim services in West Virginia.
· $1,234,838 for the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security: Funding will be provided through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program to support criminal justice initiatives.
· $600,000 for the West Virginia Division of Justice and Community Services: Funding will be provided through the OVC FY 2021 Building State Technology Capacity to support technology programs that will enhance victims’ access to services, foster innovation and efficiency in the provision of services, improve the quality of services, and improve the accessibility and responsiveness of victim service organizations.
· $530,000 for the Legislative Office of the State of West Virginia: Funding will be provided through the OVC FY 2021 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Compensation Formula Grant and will enhance State Victim Compensation payments to eligible crime victims.
· $172,076 for the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services, Inc.: Funding will be provided through the Office on Violence Against Women FY 2021 State and Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program Awards to provide national leadership and coordinated community responses on issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking to hold offenders accountable and serve victims.
· $98,706 for the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence: Funding will be provided through the Office on Violence Against Women FY 2021 State and Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program Awards to provide national leadership and coordinated community responses on issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking to hold offenders accountable and serve victims.