On at least one front, Gov. Mike DeWine has maintained the tenacity he displayed as Ohio’s attorney general. His office continues to support efforts to hold accountable those who commit sexual assault.

In February, DeWine launched the Ohio Sexual Assault Investigations Grant Program, to be awarded through the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services. Recently, the program awarded nearly $900,000 for law enforcement organizations, prosecutors and victim advocacy groups.

The Forensic Nursing Network will get more than $244,000 for training programs on drug-facilitated sexual assault kits and suspect kit collection, and for purchasing sexual assault kits. The Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office will get more than $161,000 to create a position that investigates leads from sexual assault kit testing in child sexual assault cases. The Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center will get $100,000 for a sexual assault kit training program and a best practices guide for victims’ rights. The Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office will get more than $43,000 for a victim advocate position focusing on sexual assault survivors. And the Columbus Division of Police will get $350,000 to work with the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation to analyze 175 sexual assault kits and enter any suspect DNA profiles into the national DNA database.

That is a significant amount of good work to be done with just one round of funding.

“Those who commit sexual assault are among the worst of the worst, and we’re providing these resources not only to get predators off the streets but also to ensure that survivors have ongoing access to support,” DeWine said.

Good. Now, officials must ensure the funding continues to be distributed across the Buckeye State, so those who commit sexual assault will know no corner is safe.