U.P. County receives grant to fund domestic violence program

MARQUETTE — A federal agency has awarded a six-figure grant to a U.P. county to fund the development of a new domestic violence program.

The United States Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women has awarded a $419,000 grant to Marquette County. The funds will go towards the creation of a program called ‘The Blueprint for Safety.’

The Blueprint for Safety program is designed to provide a coordinated response between law enforcement agencies and court systems to protect victims of domestic violence.  Marquette County Prosecutor Matt Wiese believes that the county is the first jurisdiction in Michigan to receive funding to start the program.

“The grant will enable us to update and develop policies and protocols to provide a consistent, county-wide response to domestic violence crimes,” said Wiese. “Our goal is to provide the most protective and accountable domestic violence response possible.”