Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office receives grant to reduce domestic violence

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WIAT ) — According to the One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center, 30 to 40 domestic violence homicides happen in Jefferson County each year.

A grant from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is designed to help reduce domestic violence in Jefferson County. The Project Safe Neighborhoods grant gives the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office $100,000.

The money is designed to step up domestic violence prosecutions and help provide services to victims and their families.

One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center is partnering with the district attorney’s office to provide resources to those who need help. Rebecca McWilliams, the center’s executive director, said the funds allow them to be more visible in the community, partner with more agencies and support children affected by domestic violence.

“This will help our Camp HOPE America program,” McWilliams said. “We know that children who are exposed to domestic violence are more likely to continue the cycle of domestic violence themselves, so the purpose of Camp HOPE is to try to prevent domestic violence for children when they’re older.”

Melissa Sherer, grant administrator with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, said the grant will allow the district attorney’s office to expand on the domestic violence high-risk team.

“It really focuses on those high-risk offenders,” Sherer said. “Those are offenders who have previous domestic violence history and who are most at risk of committing violence that can lead to death.”

The funds from the grant have to be used by Sept. 30.

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