Escambia County is one of four recipients of grant funds to support programs that assist domestic violence victims and prosecute offenders in south Alabama.
The county was awarded $60,698 of the $199,192 allocated by Gov. Kay Ivey.
“Domestic violence victims and their families deserve professional support to assist them in overcoming the trauma, as well as advocates to help them pursue justice in the legal system,” Ivey said. “I commend the work of these organizations for helping those who need it most and for prosecuting those responsible for abuse.”
In Escambia County, the money is used to continue the efforts of the Domestic Violence Unit, a joint venture between the sheriff's office and the district attorney's office. The unit works closely with law enforcement agencies, healthcare providers and victim service organizations in the county to help increase public awareness of victims' rights, prosecute domestic violence cases and reduce violent crimes against women in the county.
Escambia County District Attorney Steve Billy said the grant funds have been a great benefit to not only his office, but for the victims of domestic violence as well.
He said the money is used to partially fund a victim's advocate and domestic violence investigators.
“It helps us stay on top of perpetrators,” Billy said. “We try to keep a track record and monitor the abusers and also provide protection for the abused.”
Escambia County Clerk-Administrator Tony Sanks said the county has been receiving a domestic violence grant for about 20 years.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Others receiving grant funds included $44,864 to Penelope House in Mobile which provides domestic violence outreach for Mobile, Washington, Choctaw and Clarke counties; $54,865 to the Mobile County Commission to provide training for law enforcement and prosecutors; and $38,765 to the Baldwin Family Violence Shelter to provide shelter to domestic violence victims and their children in Baldwin, Escambia, Monroe and Conecuh counties.
