CHARLESTON, WV — West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced Thursday that he has awarded $801,797.00 in West Virginia Sexual Assault Services Program grant funds to the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services.

These funds will be used to provide and expand direct services to victims of sexual assault throughout the state.

The Sexual Assault Services Program was created by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 and provides grant dollars to states and territories to assist them in supporting rape crisis centers that provide core services, direct intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault.

These funds are administered by the Justice and Community Services (JCS) Section of the West Virginia Division of Administrative Services (DAS).