Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded an $85,500 grant to help victims of domestic violence in Escambia County obtain justice and access professional assistance.
The grant to the Escambia County Commission will help continue funding a domestic violence unit established by the District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Department. The unit investigates and prosecutes domestic violence cases and coordinates assistance and services like counseling to victims.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available to the state by the Justice Department under provisions of the STOP Violence Against Women Act. Last year marked the 20th anniversary of the act, which devotes funding to help protect women from abuse and to impose harsher punishments for abusers.
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, workforce development, energy conservation, economic development, water resource management and recreation.
Bentley notified County Commission Chairman David Stokes that the grant had been approved.