The Merced County District Attorney's office has been selected to receive $300,000 in Federal Economic Recovery Act funds to enhance its efforts responding to and prosecuting cases involving violent crimes against women.
According to a press release sent by the District Attorney's Office on Tuesday, the funds will enable the District Attorney to add three additional staff members in the department's Victim Witness Assistance Program and two advocates to the staff of Valley Crisis Center.
Valley Crisis Center began serving domestic violence victims last year after the demise of A Woman's Place.
The collaboration between the District Attorney's Office and Valley Crisis Center is geared toward providing crisis intervention, emergency services, advocacy, courtroom support, and related assistance for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and their families, according to the press release.
The grant is authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and is supported by the federal Violence Against Women Act, which encourages the development and strengthening of criminal justice partnerships.
If you or someone you know have been a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence, call the 24-hour crisis hotline at (209) 722-4357. For additional information, please contact the District Attorney's Victim Witness Assistance Program at (209) 385-7385.
All calls and inquiries are confidential.
-- Victor A. Patton
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