Welcome to Skagit County

September 5th, 2006

SKAGIT COUNTY RECEIVES $399,602 GRANT FROM U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROSECUTION AND SUPPORTING PROGRAMS

SKAGIT COUNTY - Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Seguine announced today that the United States Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women has awarded a grant of $399,602 to Skagit County. The new grant funds will allow Skagit County to continue its ongoing successful efforts to reduce domestic violence in Skagit County. Recent statistics indicate that these programs have significantly reduced the incidence of domestic violence countywide. The Task Force applying for the grant funding was led by representatives from Seguine’s office.

“Without this funding, there was a real possibility that our very effective programs partnering with law enforcement, victim advocacy and offender accountability organizations, including the courts, would end,” said Seguine. “This was a competitive grant process. The announcement of the grant award is a tribute to the team that put the application together, and the partnership and coordination that was necessary to make a convincing presentation to the Department of Justice. With a continued emphasis on the unique aspects of domestic violence, we will make Skagit County a safer place to live.”

Skagit County received funds under a similar grant in 2002 and then was chosen in 2004 to receive a second award of $704,000. This grant will bring the total of federal funds awarded to Skagit County for these efforts to nearly $1.7 million dollars over the past four years.

The grant will fund domestic violence programs for two additional years. Specifically, it will pay the salaries for a dedicated domestic violence attorney and one legal assistant, a district court probation officer, as well as support for advocacy services through Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services and continued training for other partners within the criminal justice system.

For further information, contact Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Seguine or Office Manager Barbara Leander at 336-9460.