Grant to reimburse groups that provided support to Sandy hook shooting victims

Attorney General Eric Holder announced Tuesday that the state Judicial Branch, which administers funding for services to victims of violent crime, will received a $1.5 million grant to reimburse organizations and agencies that provided direct support to victims, first responders and the community in the immediate aftermath of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown last December.

The Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime provided the grant. The initial award will be used toward costs incurred by those organizations that provided crisis intervention services, trauma-informed care, select victim-related law enforcement support and costs incurred in moving students from Sandy Hook to a new school location. Six educators and 20 first-graders were killed in the shooting.

Holder said OVC is working directly with Newtown city officials and the state of Connecticut to develop an additional grant application to provide more funding for long-term victim recovery.

"One year after the senseless violence in Newtown, we continue to mourn the innocent children and selfless adults who were taken from us on that terrible day," Holder said in a statement. "We admire and continue to support the community that has displayed such strength and resilience since then. And through this grant, and the additional funds that have already been provided to the Newtown Police Department and their law enforcement partners, we reaffirm our commitment to standing with the people of Newtown, the families of the victims, and all who are helping to bring help and healing to those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy."

In 1995, following the Oklahoma City bombing, Congress authorized OVC to set aside and administer up to $50 million annually from the Crime Victims Fund for the Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve Fund to assist victims in extraordinary circumstances. Following an act of terrorism or mass violence, jurisdictions can apply for an Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program grant award for crisis response, criminal justice support, crime victim compensation and training and technical assistance expenses.