Grant Money For Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking Victims Received In Riverside County

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department added $334,552 to its budget Tuesday in support of operations aimed at assisting victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, thanks to a unanimous vote by the Board of Supervisors.

The board, without comment, approved the sheriff's receipt of two grants of $193,268 and $141,284, both from the governor's Office of Emergency Services.

The larger grant was awarded under a "Law Enforcement Specialized Units" application filed with the state. The funds will go toward programs that seek to educate victims of domestic violence about their legal rights and help them to find ways of permanently extricating themselves from abusive situations, according to sheriff's documents.

Riverside-based Alternatives to Domestic Violence, a nonprofit shelter and crisis center, will be coordinating with sheriff's personnel in providing assistance to victims over the coming year, sheriff's officials said.

The $141,284 disbursal will be used to help victims of human- and sex- trafficking operations.

"The grant provides resources ... to educate, prevent and intervene and treat victims of sex and labor exploitation," according to a sheriff's statement.

Operation SafeHouse, a nonprofit that provides outreach services and transitional living quarters for troubled youths and young adults in western and eastern Riverside County, will be a principal partner in lending support to trafficking victims, under the grant terms. --City News Service