Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the University of Virginia have joined a national program aimed at addressing violent crime. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Virginia announced last week that this region has been added to the Department of Justice's "Project Safe Neighborhoods" initiative. Through this program, federal, state, and local law enforcement, prosecutors, and community-based partners collaborate to identify pressing violent crime issues in their area and come up with solutions.
Inclusion in the program also means the coalition can apply for Department of Justice grants, and access federal training and technical assistance.
The Albemarle County Commonwealth's Attorney, Jim Hingeley, told WMRA via email that local and federal police, prosecution agencies, and government representatives will meet to discuss violent crime problems – foremost among them, gun violence – and how to coordinate response and prevention.
