FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OJP
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2001 202/307-0703
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AWARDS AMERICAN SAMOA OVER $3
MILLION IN 2001
WASHINGTON, DC -- In Fiscal Year 2001, the Department
of Justice (DOJ) awarded more than $3 million to the Territory of American
Samoa to fight crime, promote public safety, prevent juvenile delinquency,
equip and train emergency responders and assist crime victims. DOJ’s first annual funding report highlights
the funds provided to the state through the Department’s Office of Justice
Programs (OJP) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
American Samoa’s funding was part of a total of more
than $5 billion that the Justice Department awarded to all 50 states, the District
of Columbia and the five territories.
“The Justice Department is an active partner with
state and local governments and non-profit agencies in making communities safe
places to live and work,” said Attorney General John Ashcroft. “This $3 million demonstrates our solid
commitment to American Samoa’s significant local efforts.”
Nearly $2 million awarded to American Samoa went to
law enforcement, by far the largest funding category. More than $1 million went to juvenile justice programs, $280,000
to victims’ programs and $240,000 to substance abuse programs. The summary includes both large grants
awarded by formula to American Samoa and discretionary grants that are most
often awarded on a competitive basis to non-profit or community agencies. Because many of the formula programs use
population as a determining factor, heavily populated states received larger
awards than less populated states.
The
law enforcement category includes funding for a range of needs, from hiring
police officers to training emergency first responders to purchasing
equipment. Juvenile justice funds
include money for improving states’ juvenile justice systems, promoting
delinquency prevention through programs such as mentoring and funding in areas
as diverse as preventing child abuse and reducing gang violence. The majority of funding for victims’
programs goes directly to the states to provide compensation and assistance for
crime victims or to combat domestic violence.
Substance abuse funds are used for prevention and drug treatment
programs, including drug courts, while a large portion of community-based
funding is provided through the neighborhood-focused Weed and Seed initiative.
“This report is a useful tool that allows state and
local policymakers to see what federal resources are available within their
states to promote public safety,” continued Ashcroft. “They can then determine additional needs or tap into existing
programs.”
American Samoa’s Fiscal Year 2001 funding report and
the reports for other states and territories
are available only on OJP’s Website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/fy2001grants/. For more information about American Samoa’s
funding contact the American Samoa Administering Agencies located on OJP’s
Website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/state.htm. Information about OJP and its programs is
available on OJP’s Website or by calling the National Criminal Justice
Reference Service at 1-800/851-3420.
Media should contact Linda Mansour in OJP’s Office of Congressional and
Public Affairs on 202/616-3534.
###
OJP02057
.