RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina's Governor's Crime Commission voted Thursday to approve $3.5 million in grants for violence intervention programs across the state.
The funding is expected to support programs including treatment courts, domestic violence intervention and behavioral health services. Recipients include community-based organizations, as well as hospitals and local governments.
“We are pleased to approve funding for innovative programs that will help our state advance a public health, whole-of-community approach to gun violence prevention in our communities,” Caroline Farmer, the executive director of the Governor’s Crime Commission, said in a statement.
The commission approved $500,000 for a behavioral health program in Mecklenburg County.
Thursday's grant announcement comes as the Governor's Crime Commission faces new concerns as federal funding for victim services is expected to decline next year. North Carolina was allocated $24.6 million for 2024 though the Victim of Crime Act. That funding is expected to drop to $3.5 million in 2025.
Victim of Crime Act funds ensure providers can offer critical services to victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, fraud, elder abuse and other crimes.
"Our focus remains on ensuring critical services for victims of crime in the face of declining VOCA funding," Farmer said.