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Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded three grants totaling nearly $450,000 to combat crime in five Alabama counties while helping one law enforcement agency in another county to upgrade its department enabling it to better serve its community.

Of those, a $149,982 grant will enable Dallas County to continue its adult drug court in an effort to steer people with substance abuse problems away from drugs.

The awards were made available to the state through the U.S. Department of Justice. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the awards.

The Dallas County Adult Drug Court is a specialized treatment-oriented program designed to steer non-violent offenders away from crime and drug dependency and keep them out of jails and prison. The program involves accountability, drug testing, counseling and other services for people who have been referred by the legal system.