Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded more than $1 million in grants for six statewide programs to assist law enforcement in drug, domestic violence and human trafficking related cases and to give shelter and care to victims of crimes including sexual assault.
“These grants will have positive impacts across the state, helping keep our communities safe by improving the ability of criminal justice agencies to investigate and prosecute crimes and by offering safe haven and professional guidance to crime victims looking to rebuild their lives,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to support the missions of these programs and commend those who perform this important work throughout the state.”
These funds were made available through programs from the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the awards.
“These grants will help keep communities safe and expedite criminal cases,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in support of these programs to pursue justice and provide critical services to crime victims.”
Below are the organizations receiving awards:
- Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences – $278,571 for equipment that will help analyze opioid and other synthetic drug cases.
- Alabama Administrative Office of Courts — $81,549 to educate judicial officials, employees and other stakeholders on the causes and consequences of domestic violence to help them better serve victims.
- Office of Prosecution Services — $150,000 to implement the Domestic Violence Resource Prosecutor Program, which will train law enforcement, prosecutors, domestic violence shelter staff members and other agencies that deal with domestic violence cases.
- Alabama Coalition Against Rape Inc. — $135,000 to train law enforcement, advocates, medical personnel and other first responders and to provide services to victims of sexual assault, child abuse, human trafficking, stalking and harassment.
- Camille Place — $50,110 to provide housing, therapy, education and guidance to victims of human trafficking.
- Covenant Rescue Group — $335,000 to train law enforcement and assist with sting operations in human trafficking and child exploitation cases.
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.
