The Tucker County Commission receives funding for the continued operation of the Tucker County Community Corrections Program in Charleston Wednesday. Accepting the grant are, from left, Tucker County Community Corrections Director Dustin Luzier, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, Tucker County Community Corrections DRC Officer Elizabeth Smith and Tucker County Commission President Lowell Moore.
By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
CHARLESTON – Governor Earl Ray Tomblin awarded more than $5.4 million in West Virginia Community Corrections Grant program funds to 27 projects in Charleston Wednesday, and $90,000 of that funding was granted to the Tucker County Commission for funding the Tucker County Community Corrections Program. Tucker County Commission President Lowell Moore, Tucker County Community Corrections Director Dustin Luzier and Tucker County Community Corrections DRC Officer Elizabeth Smith traveled to Charleston to accept the award during a ceremony held at the Capitol.
Tomblin said the West Virginia Community Corrections Grant program has helped communities since 2002 and said the grants help communities establish local supervision programs to help non-violent offenders stay in their homes, supported by their families while they complete their sentences. He said the funding would help local county commissions in West Virginia develop, establish and maintain community corrections programs.
Luzier said Tucker County Community Corrections was fortunate to receive the grant of $90,000 this year.
“Like everyone else in the state, our budget was cut, but we are looking forward to continuing to serve the residents of Tucker County,” Luzier said. “This grant will allow us to provide clients with an alternative to jail while providing them with services to help them with any issues they are dealing with.”
Luzier offered thanks to everyone who helped the Tucker County Community Corrections program get to this point and said the staff is excited to continue to grow the program and services they offer.
During the last year, Tucker County Community Corrections has worked with 72 clients and has saved Tucker County $500,000 in jail fees.
The Tucker County Community Corrections maintains an office in Parsons in the old Tucker County Commission Office and a satellite office in the Davis Volunteer Fire Department. Additional information about the Tucker County Community Corrections program is available by calling 304-478-2833.
