Manchin Announces $1.7 Million to Promote Public Safety, Reduce Violent Crime Across West Virginia

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $1,755,887 from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) for the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety. The funding was made possible through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which passed the Senate and was signed into law in June of 2022, and will support developing and staffing a new advisory board known as the West Virginia Crisis Intervention Advisory Board to guide the state’s gun violence reduction initiatives. The Board will include representatives from local law enforcement, the community, courts, prosecutors, behavioral health providers, victim services providers and legal counsel.

 

“All West Virginians deserve to feel safe in their communities, and we must work together to protect our friends, neighbors and children,” said Senator Manchin. “I am pleased to announce this critical investment from the Department of Justice that will create an advisory committee to inform and guide gun violence prevention programs, promote public safety and help reduce violent crime across West Virginia. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for resources to strengthen public safety for communities in the Mountain State.”