Surry and Southampton counties, along with the City of Suffolk, have received a share of more than $6 million in federal funding from the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program.

The Suffolk Police Department received $47,422; Surry County’s Sheriff’s Office received $46,219; and the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office was awarded $16,034. As a program under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security Act, the grants are intended to assist criminal justice entities in their ongoing response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The money will support the purchase of video technology to conduct remote hearings, laptops to enable more employees to telework, and additional support for community supervision, as more individuals are being diverted away from incarceration.

The funding will also be used to provide personal protective equipment for people who work in criminal justice. Overall, 171 grants were awarded to local governments, nonprofit organizations and state agencies throughout Virginia, according to an Aug. 27 announcement.