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The Dallas County Commission received two Federal Grants over $1 million to fight crime in the area.

The Family-Based Alternative Justice Grant, valued at over $700,000, will help prevent violent crime. The  Rural and Small Department Violent Crime Reduction Grant, valued at over $300,000, will help reduce violent crime.

Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn announced the grants last week and said Dallas County is the first county in the state to receive the awards.

“The grant is great news for a small  county like Dallas County to combat crime,” Nunn said. “We need to try to find a way to try to reduce that crime to stop the hemorrhaging, to stop the bleeding.”

The Dallas County Commission will administer the grant. Dallas County Court Services  and the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office will implement the programs. The money will also help the DA’s Office create a violent crime response team and hire a new investigator to assist the Selma Police Department and Dallas County Sheriff’s Office solve cold cases.

Nunn praised the work of Turner, Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr., Selma Police Chief Kenta Fulford, and Dallas County Sheriff Mike Granthum, all of whom were at the press conference.