More than $2.2 million dollars has been awarded to 32 organizations across the commonwealth that work to combat domestic violence and support and seek justice for survivors.
During a briefing last week, Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman said this funding will go a long way to help these organizations.
“This includes law enforcement, prosecutors, victims’ services, and state and local courts. They will provide resources, shelter, treatments, and counseling to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, regardless of age.”
The $2 million in funding is being awarded from the federal Violence Against Women Act grant program.
Lieutenant Governor Coleman said they are also working on building a better collection of data on domestic violence.
“By enhancing our collection, the commonwealth will be able to assist service providers to better target programming, increase spending opportunities, decrease gaps in services, enhance training for first responders, and strengthen re-entry efforts so we can reduce recidivism.”
This data collection project is a collaboration between the executive, judicial and legislative branches, as well as law enforcement, Administrative Office of the Courts, the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center and the group ZeroV.
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