There won’t be a new television show called “St. Clair County Special Victims’ Unit” but a $1.95 million federal grant will allow prosecutors to more aggressively pursue domestic violence and sexual assault and advocate for the victims.

The new unit will be called St. Clair County Domestic Violence and Special Victims’ Unit and will seek to improve investigation, prosecution and services to victims in sexual assault and domestic violence cases. The money for the new unit came from a U.S. Department of Justice fund established by the Violence Against Women Act, said State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly. St. Clair County competed against 31 other counties in southern Illinois for the grant. The Violence Against Women Act seeks to improve criminal justice and community-based responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. U.S. Pres. Barack Obama reauthorized the act in 2013, providing law enforcement with better resources to investigate sex crimes, giving colleges more tools to educate students about dating violence and sex assault, and continues to allow relief for immigrant victims of domestic violence.

The grant will fund the salaries of three prosecutors, one probation officer, two sheriff’s deputies, five advocates for the Violence Prevention Center and one advocate for Call for Help. Under the grant award, St. Clair County will receive $650,000 per year for three years, then can reapply.

“Domestic and sexual violence occurrence rates are likely on par with the rest of the country but, as you know, getting cases better investigated is a challenge for us, especially in communities with low resources for law enforcement,” Kelly said. “We have greatly increased domestic violence prosecution and are making progress on sex assaults but we have to do better and this team approach will help.”