From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM – The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a grant from the United States Justice Department Office of Victims of Crime to expand the Victim’s Services Unit.
On October 1, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received notification that it had been awarded a grant in the amount of $702,000 to expand and reorganize the Victim’s Service Unit.
The revised unit will be comprised of a Victim Assistance Lead Advocate, a Coordinated Community Response Team Coordinator, and two Victim Advocates that will establish a collaborative partnership with One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center to serve the broader needs and rights of crime victims in Jefferson County.
Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office will train personnel about trauma and the effects of trauma on victims of crime. We will also lead other law enforcement agencies in Jefferson County in the implementation of victim-centered best practices and making these best practices a priority within these agencies.
“We established a victim’s assistance unit shortly after taking office my first term and it has been an invaluable resource to aid crime victims navigating through our legal system. This award is a monumental step in protecting and preserving the rights of victims and their families. I am proud of the work done to this point and excited about the potential to better serve crime victims that this grant will provide”, said Sheriff Mike Hale.