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Read the press release here.

$900K Grant to Bolster Queens Domestic Violence Programs

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | October 30, 2014 11:36am
 Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced a $900,000 federal grant that will bolster initiatives to combat domestic violence in Queens.  
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced a $900,000 federal grant that will bolster initiatives to combat domestic violence in Queens.  
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DNAinfo/Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska

QUEENS — Programs to combat domestic violence in Queens will soon get a $900,000 boost in federal grants.

The money, which comes from the U.S. Department of Justice, will run through 2017, according to District Attorney Richard Brown and Borough President Melinda Katz, who helped secure the grant.

Queens has the highest conviction rate for domestic abuse in the city.

“Under the grant we will continue our efforts to stop domestic violence, hold offenders accountable, protect victims and offer appropriate programs and services to families in crisis,” Brown said in a statement.

The grant will be used to support programs at the Queens Family Justice Center, located in Kew Gardens, which helps victims find a place to stay and provides them with emotional support as well as legal assistance.

The money will also be used to reach out to victims in often underserved populations, including the immigrant, elderly and LGBT communities.

Certain areas in Queens have struggled with domestic violence and sex trafficking. In recent months, the city has begun deploying a variety of innovative methods to reach out to the victims, including distributing information at nail salons and supermarkets in the most affected neighborhoods.

The DA’s Domestic Violence Bureau prosecutes approximately 6,000 cases per year, according to Brown.

“Today, Queens County has the highest domestic violence conviction rate and the lowest dismissal rate in New York City,” Brown said.

“All of us who are a part of this initiative are committed to making Queens a place where noone has to live in fear of being abused by anyone they have a domestic relationship with,” Katz said.