Virginia Receives $11.7 Million to Improve Public Safety.

WASHINGTON, May 10 /PRNewswire/ --

Virginia was awarded more than $11.7 million today to enhance criminal justice efforts to combat crime and violence at the state and local level under the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Formula Grant Program.

The Byrne Formula Grant Program is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Justice Department agency that supports the implementation of comprehensive criminal justice strategies developed by each of the states and territories.

"These awards are a vital step in our effort to assist jurisdictions throughout the country to reduce crime and improve public safety," said BJA Director Nancy Gist. "BJA is pleased to make these formula grant awards to the states and territories to help them build safer communities and improve the criminal justice system at the state and local level."

Virginia intends to use its formula grant award to support projects including: enhancing drug enforcement initiatives, improving criminal history records, creating community and neighborhood programs to assist citizens in preventing and controlling crime, and improving the operational effectiveness of courts by expanding prosecutorial, defender, and judicial resources.

For further information at the state level, please contact Joe Marshall, Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services at 804-786-1577.

If you would like additional information about the Bureau of Justice Assistance, please visit its Internet site at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov.

*OJP and its component agencies' press releases are available for use without restriction.

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