MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $7,000 grant to ensure sexual assault offenders in west Alabama are arrested and prosecuted for their crimes.
The funds will be used to establish a sexual assault investigator for the 24th Judicial Circuit which includes Fayette, Lamar and Pickens counties.
“Those who commit sexual assault crimes should be held accountable for their offenses,” Gov. Ivey said. “I commend local leaders for establishing this position to hold offenders accountable for their actions and obtain justice for victims.”
The specialized investigator will work with victims and law enforcement officers in the circuit to ensure prosecution of offenders. The grant will provide equipment and continuing education for the investigator.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available to the state from the U.S. Department of Justice.
“ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in support of the law enforcement agencies in the 24th Judicial Circuit that work hard to investigate crimes and obtain justice for victims,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.
Ivey notified Mark Grey, chairman of the Pickens County Commission, that the grant had been approved. Pickens County is the fiscal agent for the grant.
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.
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