Tuesday, July 20th Governor Mike Parson announced $4 million would now be dedicated to new grant opportunities combating crimes against children and to providing additional funding to agencies that offer services to crime victims.
The total amount of crimes against children in Missouri rose in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the increase in crime rates, the amount of service referrals provided by victim service agencies also grew.
Of the grant total, $2 million is being made available to assist local law enforcement and prosecutors to combat the rising crime rate, with the additional $2 million dedicated to crime service agencies.
“These new grant programs will allow us to better investigate and prosecute criminals who victimize children and support domestic violence service agencies and child advocacy centers who serve our most vulnerable citizens and help bring criminals to justice,” said Gov. Mike Parson.
The funding for the grants will be allocated from the previous federal Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program (CESF) funds, and the grants will be administered by the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
The projects may include additional staff to investigate, prosecute, and detect crimes against children, and the may also include services to other victims and vulnerable populations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic such as domestic violence.
The funding for the Crimes Against Children/Sex Crimes Grant is expected to open August 1, 2021, and the funding for the Victims of Crime Grant is expected to open September 1, 2021. .