Public Safety News
Total: 6
The District's Justice Grants Administration (JGA) applied on March 11, 2009 for $11,741,539 in recovery funds from the US Department of Justice's Byrne Justice Assistance Grant. The District will use these funds for several priorities including:
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Prisoner re-entry
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Evidence-based services for adjudicated youth
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Detention and incarceration diversion initiatives
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Criminal and juvenile justice research
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Evaluation, data and technology capacity building; and
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Court diversion services for at-risk youth and status offenders
These funds are disbursed by the federal government on a formula-driven basis and should be available to the District within 30-60 days. In April, JGA will be releasing Requests for Applications to identify community-based organizations and other District and federal agency partners who can help work on these priorities.
District’s Office of Victim Services (OVS) Applies for Funds
The District’s Office of Victim Services (OVS) applied on March 17, 2009 for $1,345,053 in Recovery Act funds from the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office on Violence Against Women, US Department of Justice. The District will use these funds to work on the following priorities including:
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responding to the emotional and physical needs of crime victims
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assisting victims of crime to stabilize their lives after a victimization
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assisting victims to understand and participate in the District’s criminal justice process
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encouraging the development and strengthening effective, victim-centered law enforcement, prosecution and court strategies to combat violent crimes against women
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developing and enhancing District victim services that address violence against women
These funds are distributed by the federal government on a formula-driven basis and should be available to the District in 30-60 days. In April, OVS will be releasing Requests for Applications to identify agencies and organizations interesting in working on the identified priorities.
District Agencies Apply for Over $5 Million in Stimulus Grants for Crime Control, Youth Violence Prevention, Victim Assistance
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) have submitted six applications to the US Department of Justice funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for a number of high-priority law enforcement and juvenile justice related projects. The applications, which requested funding in excess of $5 million, are summarized below.
Support for TEAM-DC, a Local-Federal Law Enforcement Task Force to Combat Violent Crime
Lead Agency: Metropolitan Police Department
Requested amount: $1,006,803
Project Focus: Staffing and technology enhancements for “TEAM-DC,” an innovative antiviolence initiative being used to reduce crime in the District’s most at-risk communities. The funding request includes interview and interrogation training, cell phone tracking technology, and additional crime trend analysis.
Increased Supervision and Support for Court-Involved Youth Residing in the Community
Lead Agency: Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services
Requested amount: $627,447
Project Focus: Reducing case manager-to-youth ratio for supervision of highest-need young offenders, to include intensive oversight and management of supportive services, frequent contacts with family, school, etc., and increased engagement with community groups.
Reducing Mortgage Fraud and Other Crimes Related to Vacant Properties
Lead Agency: Metropolitan Police Department
Requested amount: $355,341
Project Focus: Training and certification support for Financial Crimes Unit officers, new technology for detection of mortgage-related fraud, and grants for community groups seeking to address crime and disorder issues in neighborhoods with large numbers of foreclosed properties.
Increased Capacity for Threat Analysis and Police Policy Development
Lead Agency: Metropolitan Police Department
Requested amount: $1,346,939
Project Focus: Hiring of intelligence fusion analysts to analyze and disseminate data collected by the Washington Regional Threat Analysis Center as part of its Suspicious Activity Report project, as well as a police policy expert to help update MPD policy directives and guidance.
Enhancing Forensic and Crime Scene Investigations
Lead Agency: Metropolitan Police Department
Requested amount: $2,063,173
Project Focus: Expansion of forensic firearms examination staff to reduce backlog of firearm-related evidence awaiting analysis and hiring of several new civilian crime scene investigators.
Improving Resources and Services for Victims of Crime
Lead Agency: Metropolitan Police Department
Requested amount: $594,199
Project Focus: Funding for three victim specialist positions serving family members and other secondary victims of “cold case” homicides.
COPS Stimulus Grant Allows MPD to Add More Officers
More officers will be added to the ranks at MPD to focus on community policing thanks to a US Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant of $12 million through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The COPS Office received nearly 7,300 applications requesting more than 39,000 officers and $8.3 billion in funds, while only $1 billion is available for the program. With such an extremely high demand, the COPS Office could fund only 14 percent of the total number of grant requests received in FY 2009, including the District. Currently, MPD has a sworn membership of 4,058, and the COPS grant will help MPD to reach its goal of 4,100 officers.
"This grant will allow MPD to hire another 50 officers to help keep our city safe," said Mayor Fenty. "I commend the Department of Justice for their efforts to aid our city and to make community policing a top priority."
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