Baltimore County has been awarded more than $360,000 in federal grant money earmarked for violent crime reduction and other public safety activities.

The U.S. Department of Justice grant is part of $6.3 million provided to the state and individual counties and cities in Maryland.

The county's share will be used to retain positions created with prior federal grant funding including salaries for six police officers used to increase patrols in designated areas as well as a criminal records clerk to process arrest warrants over a seven month period, according to a statement released by Maryland Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin.

The grant funding is based on a formula of population and violent crime statistics. Money from the program is used to pay for law enforcement, prosecution, education drug treatment and technology improvements.

The $360,238 awarded to Baltimore County is the third largest of any of the 9 Maryland counties and Baltimore City to receive a federal grant.

Baltimore City received $762,900 and Prince George's County received $432,311.