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ELKINS -- Agencies in Randolph, Barbour and Upshur counties will receive Victims of Crime Act funding, Gov. Jim Justice announced.
Justice said he has awarded $16,707,149 in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funds to 82 projects statewide.
VOCA funds provide direct services like counseling, personal advocacy, court advocacy, client transportation, and support services to victims of crimes including domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, and elder abuse. The funds will also support assistance to victims as they move through the criminal justice system.
The Randolph County Commission will receive $47,398 to be utilized to continue to provide support advocacy and information to victims of crime throughout the judicial process.
The Randolph County Children's Advocacy Center will be awarded $72,123 to be utilized to provide expanded intervention support and advocacy to children who have been victims, their non-offending caregivers, and adult victims with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
The Barbour County Commission is set to receive a total of $41,160 to be utilized to assist victims of crime including, but not limited to, court notification, personal advocacy, information referrals, transportation and victim compensation fund applications.
The Upshur County Commission will be awarded $38,595 to be utilized to notify crime victims of criminal charges, provide personal safety planning, assist with court accompaniment, assist with court notifications of changes in case status, obtain restitution, and make referrals.
Women's Aid in Crisis will receive $614,548 to be utilized to provide direct services, including shelter advocacy and a 24/7 crisis hotline to victims/survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence, child abuse, human trafficking, and stalking, with a focus on underserved populations experiencing abuse in six counties.
The West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation will be awarded $179,661 to be utilized to provide direct services throughout the state while networking with county prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, advocates and service providers to continue to share information to better assist victims and the safety of the public and communities in all 55 counties.
A portion of the funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime, and a portion was provided by the Office of the Governor and the West Virginia Legislature as state supplemental funds.
The VOCA grant program is administered by the West Virginia Division of Administrative Services' Justice and Community Services Section.