Dakota County is using $450,000 in federal funding to protect women from violent crimes. Sheriff Tim Leslie says the money will be used over three years to help the county’s Electronic Crime Task Force gather evidence in cases of domestic and sexual violence and stalking-related electronic crimes. Leslie says “the research on domestic abuse–we know that when stalking begins there’s an obsession there that we really need to break that cycle or else she’s in really serious danger.” The grants will go toward hiring a full-time computer forensic examiner and a part-time assistant who will offer outreach and training for law enforcement in the field. Leslie says he hopes that outreach may extend to law enforcement agencies in neighboring counties as well. Here’s MNN’s Scott Peterson’s conversation with the Sheriff Leslie about the grants: