The Justice Department recently announced more than $17 million worth of grants to agencies in Northern Ohio that will pay for the citywide expansion of the Cleveland Division of Police’s domestic violence high risk team, improve DNA testing capabilities in Richland County and other areas, expand drug courts in several cities, allow the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office to build a database to track violent crime trends, provide transitional housing in Ottawa County and Canton for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, and numerous other programs.
“These funds will save lives, whether that is expanding a program that identifies the most dangerous abusers, provides emergency shelter to our most vulnerable victims, allows law enforcement to do a better job tracking and sharing crime data, just to name a few,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “These grant awards demonstrate the Justice Department’s commitment to working across the state and country, with jurisdictions large and small, to make our communities safer.”
Mansfield Police will receive $250,000 from the National Institute of Justice. The money will be used to reduce any forensic DNA backlog, provide for continuing education training for DNA analysts, and purchase necessary equipment, software and training.
The Mansfield Division of Police Forensic Science Section DNA Laboratory is an agency that is responsible for analyzing evidential material associated with criminal investigations for local law enforcement agencies in Mansfield and adjoining communities.
Federal funding from this award will be used for the following goals: 1) Reduction of the forensic DNA case backlog, maintenance of limited turn-around time and the continued participation in CODIS; 2) Providing registration and travel related costs associated with continuing education for DNA analysts; 3) Utilize overtime to maintain current turnaround time and the technical review of a minimum of 30 DNA cases; 4) Purchase equipment, software and training associated with the implementation of a DNA mixture resolution program; and 5) Purchase service contracts for DNA equipment including thermal cyclers, real time instrumentation and a genetic analyzer.
The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services will receive $259,188 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The money is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program and will be distributed to police departments in Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Elyria, Lorain, Mansfield, Toledo and Youngstown to help fund initiatives designed to help reduce gun violence.
Source: Press Releases
