St. Mary’s County, MD – The State’s Attorney’s Office for St. Mary’s County, led by State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling, has been awarded a $96,777 grant to tackle the growing issue of gun violence through advanced technology and evidence management. This Gun Violence Reduction Grant (GVRG), provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP), aims to support the office in adapting to the challenges posed by technologically savvy criminals.
“This grant empowers us to stay one step ahead of the new generation of technologically dependent and digitally advanced criminals, specifically in cases involving gun violence,” Sterling stated. She emphasized the importance of mastering the tools available for tracking and investigating gun violence cases, often starting well before the actual occurrence of a crime.
The grant is a continuation of efforts by Sterling’s office to enhance public safety and justice for victims of gun violence in the community. In her first year in office, Sterling introduced an Evidence Review Unit dedicated to managing digital evidence, such as body-worn camera footage, surveillance videos, social media records, and cell phone data. This unit addresses the complications of handling increasingly complex digital evidence as technology evolves.
The GVRG will support the office’s ongoing commitment to the digital Evidence Analyst position, crucial for prosecuting offenders who misuse firearms illegally. Jessika Hall, Grant Coordinator for the State’s Attorney’s Office, was pivotal in writing and preparing the successful FY25 GVRG grant application on behalf of St. Mary’s County residents.
The recent grant award marks the second consecutive year that Sterling’s office has successfully obtained funding from the GOCPP to help reduce gun violence. With this latest award, the total grants received by the office amount to $1,525,469.
The funding of this project by the GOCPP under subaward number GVRG-2025-0017 supports initiatives specifically targeted at enhancing the capabilities of local law enforcement to address gun-related crimes effectively. The views expressed in this document are solely those of the author and do not represent the official stance of any state or federal agency.
