BRLS News > Public Safety Grant to the Commonwealth
Text of Story: More than $4 million is coming to the commonwealth to help public safety. The grant was announced by Gov. Tim Kaine Tuesday. Several organizations will receive a portion of the funds, including several law enforcement agencies in Rockingham County. One thing the law enforcement agencies will do is use $150,000 for the development of computer systems in official vehicles. Blue Ridge Legal Services in Harrisonburg will get more than $47,000 to retain a domestic violence lawyer to serve low income clients. People there say the grant is a welcome addition. "We were thrilled to learn just recently that grant has been renewed by the state, so we can have it for a couple of years, and we can retain that attorney for a couple of years. And it will mean that probably an extra 100 people a year, victims of domestic violence, will get equal access to the courts and protection from domestic violence," says John Whitfield of Blue Ridge Legal Services. Other Valley organizations receiving money are the Collins Center in Harrisonburg and the Page County Council on Domestic Violence.