U.S. Attorney Sharpe Commends VI For Receiving Multiple Grants Totaling Over $2 Million

ST. THOMAS — United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe today commended the Virgin Islands Government for receiving several additional grants from the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs, according to a press release issued this evening.

Five grants totaling over $2 million were awarded on September 23, 2015. Sharpe said the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement by providing resources and supporting programs that strengthen the community.

The largest of the five grants awarded is a $1.123 million grant to the Law Enforcement Planning Commission. The grants are:

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for $610,774 was awarded to the Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission. The grant will assist in improving the operational effectiveness of law enforcement using evidence-based and data driven efforts in reducing crime, improve investigations and prosecutions efforts for drug and violent crime and increase funding assistance to communities and neighborhoods to prevent delinquency and reduce juvenile crime.

The VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant for $1,123,431 was awarded to the Law Enforcement Planning Commission to provide competitively awarded grants to state and local community-based organizations that provide direct services to crime victims.

The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Grant for $63,705 was awarded to the Virgin Islands Department of Justice to assist VIDOJ in improving the quality, quantity and timeliness of forensic science in the territory.

The Victim Assistance Discretionary Grant Training Program for $57,292 was awarded to the Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Commission to support training and technical assistance for victim grantees and others who work with crime victims.

The Victim Compensation Formula Grant for $163,000 was awarded to the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services on St. Croix to enhance state victim compensation payments to eligible crime victims.

Feature Image:  United States Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe.

Image Credit: VIC.