LEONARDTOWN, Md. – State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announces that the State’s Attorney’s Office for St. Mary’s County secured a $96,777 Gun Violence Reduction Grant (GVRG) to address challenges evolving from the rise in gun-related crimes.
“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. As a prosecuting office, we must utilize, and master available tools for the successful prosecution of gun violence cases by meticulously tracking and investigating evidence, which often includes a timeline far earlier than when an actual crime occurs,” said State’s Attorney Sterling. “This grant will allow us to continue to enhance public safety and ensure justice for our communities and the victims affected by gun violence.”
In 2023, Sterling, in her first year as State’s Attorney, embraced the emerging advancements in digital evidence by launching an Evidence Review Unit. The unit tackles the challenges of managing digital evidence, including body-worn camera, surveillance footage, social media records, and cell phone data, as technology continues to evolve. This grant will ensure a seamless continuation of the office’s digital Evidence Analyst position, which aims to bolster the successful prosecution of criminals who illegally utilize firearms in St. Mary’s County.
The nearly $100,000 grant, awarded by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP), marks the second year in a row Sterling’s office successfully competed for and earned this grant to aid in the reduction of gun violence. This award, in combination with five others, brings the grand total of grant dollars awarded to Sterling’s office to $1,525,469.
Jessika Hall, Grant Coordinator for the State’s Attorney’s Office, successfully wrote and prepared the competitive FY25 GVRG grant on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary’s County.
The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy funded this project under subaward number GVRG-2025-0017. All points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of any State or Federal agency.
