Virginia's public safety agencies will receive $39.8 million from the economic recovery package, Senators Warner and Webb announced today.  Approximately $15.5 million will go directly to local sheriffs and police departments, and $24.3 million will be directed to state criminal justice programs.

The money will be available through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, which supports state and local governments' law enforcement and criminal justice programs, such as:

• hiring and support for law enforcement officers; 
• multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces; 
• crime prevention and domestic violence programs; 
• and courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives. 

Forty percent of the allocation will be given directly to local governments, while the rest will be given to the state government.  To see a breakdown of JAG allocation amounts by jurisdiction, click here.

Here's what Senator Warner had to say:

"These funds will help minimize the impact of state and local budget cuts to our front-line law enforcement officials.  At the direction of the Virginia General Assembly, these stimulus dollars will cover personnel costs and help fund the training and salaries for our law enforcement and criminal justice professionals."