The local law enforcement grants for enforcement of cybercrimes program (cybercrimes enforcement program) supports efforts by states, indian tribes, and units of local government to prevent,…

The County of Wyoming in Pineville, West Virginia was awarded a $382,835 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women under the Local Law Enforcement Grants for Enforcement of Cybercrimes Program (CFDA 16.060). The 36-month grant, which commenced on October 1, 2024, will be used to establish a Cybercrimes Investigation Unit to aid in the investigation, prosecution, and victim services for individual victims of cybercrimes in the southern part of West Virginia. Key activities funded by the grant include: 1) providing specialized training for the investigation team to effectively identify and investigate cybercrimes against individuals; 2) covering overtime pay for officers to attend the training; 3) partnering with S.A.F.E., Inc. to provide victim services, advocate for victims during the court process, and coordinate a community response team; and 4) purchasing software and equipment to assist with cybercrime investigations.

The local law enforcement grants for enforcement of cybercrimes program (cybercrimes enforcement program) supports efforts by states, indian tribes, and units of local government to prevent, enforce, and prosecute cybercrimes against individuals. Cybercrimes against individuals are defined as criminal offenses that involve the use of a computer to harass, threaten, stalk, extort, coerce, cause fear to, or intimidate an individual, or without consent distribute intimate images of an adult, except that use of a computer need not be an element of the offense. (see 34 U.S.C. 30107(a)(2)). The term computer includes a computer network and an interactive electronic device. Cybercrimes against individuals do not include the use of a computer to cause harm to a commercial entity, government agency or nonnatural person. With this initial cybercrime enforcement grant award, the county of wyoming will implement purpose area 1 to establish a cybercrimes investigation unit to aid in the investigation, prosecution, and victim services to individual victims of cybercrimes in the southern part of west virginia. The MOU partner for this project is stop abusive family environments INC. (S.A.F.E. INC.), who will serve as the victim service provider. This project will: 1) provide training for team members to receive specialized training to effectively investigate and identify cybercrimes against individuals; 2) provide overtime pay for officers to attend training; 3) partner with S.A.F.E., INC. To provide victim services as well as advocate for victims during the court process and coordinate the coordinated community response team; and 4) purchase software and equipment to better assist with cybercrimes investigations. The timing for performance of this award is 36 months.