The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors (Board) is partnering with the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office to have the County designated as a Certified Crime Prevention Community through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).

During its March 19 business meeting, the Board voted to adopt the resolution and ratify the document at its April 16 meeting. The resolution will become part of the application submitted to the state for participation in the program.

The Virginia Certified Crime Prevention Community program is one of the first of its kind in the nation and currently, there are just 12 localities in the Commonwealth that have been certified through the program.

The Crime Prevention Community designation can be used to seek premium reductions from insurance companies and can attract families, tourists and new businesses to a locality.

To become certified, a locality must meet 12 core community safety elements/strategies augmented by a minimum of seven approved optional elements. The program is operated and monitored by DCJS.

There is no cost for the County to apply to the program and the designation makes it eligible to apply for mini-grants.