NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — There's no one size fits all solution to preventing gun violence.
The city of Newport News is getting funding for its multi-layered approach to address crime, part of the solution is investing in former inmates.
On Tuesday, $760,000 made its way to Newport News and will be used for the Sheriff's Office's Gun Violence and Violent Crime Reduction Initiative which makes up three main components
Congressman Bobby Scott (D) said it required a lot of due diligence by city leaders in Newport News
"The city went into a great deal of effort to try and do the research to find out what can actually reduce crime they decided up into sections and that's what the grant is funding," said Congressman Scott.
Part of it will fund needed technology like new cameras, license plate readers and a storage facility for the sheriff's office.
According to Mayor Phillip Jones, some of the money will be used to protect, relocate and support witnesses needed for testimony
"People want to be involved people want to reduce gun violence in our area, but they live in that community they see that perpetrator on a day-to-day basis and as of now, we don't have all the funds to protect them," Mayor Jones said. "This is just the first step in rectifying that situation."
According to Newport News Sheriff Gabriel Morgan, the majority of the money is going towards the re-entry of civilians who have served their time in the city or state prisons and need help re-entering society.
Aside from finding employment, Sheriff Morgan says another important component of reentry is housing.
"We're going to be able to bridge the gap of housing so we are looking at maybe in our estimates 100 plus people returning that we would be able to get into supportive housing while getting them a job and get them started," said Sheriff Morgan.
In terms of when some of that money will start being used—that's the next step for the city.
"Everything is tied together nothing happens in isolation in Hampton Roads so we are going to take a comprehensive look this summer at what we can do from a city council policy level to encourage more development and to encourage different lot sizes right now," explained Mayor Jones.
