Martinsville, Patrick to receive federal funds

The City of Martinsville and Patrick County are among the localities slated to receive funds from more than $6 million in federal funding from the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding (CESF) Program.

Gov. Ralph Northam announced the funding was approved by the Executive Committee of the Criminal Justice Services Board of the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). The Committee awarded 171 grants to localities, nonprofit organizations, and state agencies throughout Virginia.

In Martinsville, the Police Department was allocated $50,000; the Sheriff’s Office will receive $40,125 and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will receive $9,330.

Additionally, $49,345 is earmarked for the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office.

As a program under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, CESF grants assist criminal justice entities in their ongoing mitigation and response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The COVID-19 crisis continues to create tremendous challenges in all areas of our society, and our criminal justice system is no different,” said Northam. “Our public safety professionals are the front lines of this pandemic, and we must ensure they have the resources they need to perform their duties and provide critical services to Virginians who need them most. These grants will help state and local agencies and community organizations across the Commonwealth function as effectively as possible as we continue battling this virus.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected how everyone does business, including criminal justice agencies,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian J. Moran. “This funding will help ensure continuity of operations for essential services and as well as the safety of all individuals interacting with the criminal justice system and the staff supporting it.”

CESF grants will support the purchase of video technology to conduct remote hearings, laptops to enable more employees to telework, as well as additional support for community supervision as more individuals are being diverted away from incarceration. Additionally, this funding will be used to equip those working for criminal justice entities with personal protective equipment, decontamination supplies, and screening equipment to help protect individuals when in-person contact cannot be avoided.

“Recognizing that there will be a continued need for this assistance, we made the strategic decision to disperse this funding in waves,” said DCJS Director Shannon Dion. “These grants will help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 in our criminal justice system and in communities across Virginia.”

The awards constitute 56 percent of the $10.83 million in CESF grants awarded to Virginia. DCJS anticipates putting out another solicitation within the next nine months to distribute the remaining funding to criminal justice entities in need.