JefCo to Receive Federal Grant to Improve Prosecution of Sexual Assault

| December 18, 2015 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/12/20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:766;s:6:"height";i:447;s:4:"file";s:48:"2015/12/20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-336x196.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:196;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:46:"20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-600x447.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:447;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-533x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:533;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-454x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:454;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-600x447.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:447;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:48:"20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:181074;s:14:"optimized_size";i:79185;s:7:"percent";d:56.270000000000003;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:76:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:63145;s:14:"optimized_size";i:15225;s:7:"percent";d:75.890000000000001;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:84:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:5437;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3695;s:7:"percent";d:32.039999999999999;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:84:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-336x196.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:15304;s:14:"optimized_size";i:9477;s:7:"percent";d:38.079999999999998;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:84:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:30234;s:14:"optimized_size";i:14277;s:7:"percent";d:52.780000000000001;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:84:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:12861;s:14:"optimized_size";i:5496;s:7:"percent";d:57.270000000000003;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:84:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-533x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:27258;s:14:"optimized_size";i:15302;s:7:"percent";d:43.859999999999999;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:84:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-454x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:22135;s:14:"optimized_size";i:12523;s:7:"percent";d:43.420000000000002;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:84:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/12/20090803_jefferson_county_alabama_18-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4700;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3190;s:7:"percent";d:32.130000000000003;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1618848157 
1450458987

Jefferson County will receive funding from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women to improve how the justice system handles sexual assault cases, announced today U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, Jefferson County District Attorney Brandon Falls, Sheriff Mike Hale and Crisis Center Executive Director Meg McGlamery.

The county is one of just seven in the nation chosen for this pilot program, announced this week by U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

Through the program, called the Sexual Assault Justice Initiative, the Jefferson County Commission will receive $400,000 to implement measures aimed at improving practices for prosecuting sexual assault cases and promoting justice for victims.

The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the non-profit Crisis Center will collaborate on the goals of the initiative. Funds will support the development of a specialized unit within the DA’s Office to coordinate investigation and prosecution of sexual assault crimes. The unit will include a bilingual investigator, special prosecutor and will also address reporting obstacles for immigrant victims of sexual violence.

Jefferson County joins the city of Los Angeles, Cobb County, Ga., the city and county of Honolulu, the New Hampshire Department of Justice in Concord, the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Okla., and Sauk County, Wis.

 

54% of support comes from members

 

Alabama’s racial, ethnic health disparities are ‘more severe’ than other states, report says

Data from the Commonwealth Fund show that the quality of care people receive and their health outcomes worsened because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What’s your favorite thing about Alabama?

That's the question we put to those at our recent News and Brews community pop-ups at Hop City and Saturn in Birmingham.

Q&A: A former New Orleans police chief says it’s time the U.S. changes its marijuana policy

Ronal Serpas is one of 32 law enforcement leaders who signed a letter sent to President Biden in support of moving marijuana to a Schedule III drug.

How food stamps could play a key role in fixing Jackson’s broken water system

JXN Water's affordability plan aims to raise much-needed revenue while offering discounts to customers in need, but it is currently tied up in court.

Alabama mine cited for federal safety violations since home explosion led to grandfather’s death, grandson’s injuries

Following a home explosion that killed one and critically injured another, residents want to know more about the mine under their community. So far, their questions have largely gone unanswered.

Crawfish prices are finally dropping, but farmers and fishers are still struggling

Last year’s devastating drought in Louisiana killed off large crops of crawfish, leading to a tough season for farmers, fishers and seafood lovers.

More Front Page Coverage