Grants help domestic violence crime units in Madison County

Grants totaling $125,350 will support the operations of two specialized units dedicated to obtaining justice for domestic violence victims in Madison County.

A $92,650 grant to the Madison County Commission will enable the county’s Domestic Violence Prosecution Enhancement Unit to continue its work. The unit uses specially trained personnel to investigate and prosecute domestic violence cases and ensure the safety of victims before, during and after trials. The group is a joint effort of the district attorney’s office, the sheriff’s department and the circuit clerk’s office

The city of Madison received a $32,700 grant to continue the Police and Prosecutor’s Domestic Violence Unit which investigates and prosecutes all domestic violence cases in the city. A police investigator and a city prosecutor make up the unit, which started in 1998.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice.