The West Virginia regional jail system will use a $410,522 matching grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to fight assault.
The money will be used toward training staff, educating inmates and providing victims’ services to combat sexual abuse and sexual assault. The Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority successfully applied for funds offered to help states implement the U.S. Prison Rape Elimination ACT.
The grant program supports demonstration projects that establish a “zero tolerance” culture for sexual assault in correctional facilities.
The funding will help each pilot program to train staff, review and revise existing policies, educate inmates, develop partnerships with counseling services and enhance the jails existing medical services.