Bethlehem (September 13, 2018)– State Senator Lisa M. Boscola announced today that Lehigh County has been approved by the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) for two grants totaling $400,000 to enhance the County’s efforts to assist our citizens who are victims of crime.

“It’s critical that at all levels of government we focus on crime prevention, but when a crime occurs we must ensure that we have in place the best possible procedures and programs to aid crime victims,” Boscola stated. “Through these important grants, Lehigh County will be able to further enhance their efforts with crime prevention and aiding victims of crime.”

The following grants were approved by PCCD at their quarterly meeting on September 12, 2018 for Lehigh County:

  • $250,000 Federal STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant. This grant will be used by to fund numerous County positions to assist victims of crime including a victim witness coordinator, a chief deputy district attorney and an assistant district attorney and two county detectives.  This grant will also be used by the Crime Victims Council of Lehigh County, Inc. to support one direct services counselor and by Turning Point of Lehigh Valley to support a court advocate and a counselor advocate.  Funding will also support a county-wide training for stakeholders.

Federal STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant program was authorized by the Federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to develop and strengthen the criminal justice system’s response to violence against women and to support and enhance services for victims. 

  • $150,000 through the Federal Bryne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Single Solicitation Local Initiatives program to support the institution of a Mobile Data Terminal Program in the Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office.

The Federal Bryne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Single Solicitation Local Initiatives program made applicants eligible for up to $150,000.

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