FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OJP
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2001 202/307-0703
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AWARDS RHODE ISLAND OVER $27
MILLION IN 2001
WASHINGTON, DC -- In Fiscal Year 2001, the Department
of Justice (DOJ) awarded more than $27 million to the State of Rhode Island 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). Rhode Island’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 $27 million demonstrates our solid
commitment to Rhode Island’s significant local efforts.”
More than $19 million awarded to Rhode Island went to
law enforcement, by far the largest funding category. $4 million went to juvenile justice programs, $3 million to
victims’ programs, $800,000 to substance abuse programs and $400,000 to
community-based initiatives. The
summary includes both large grants awarded by formula to Rhode Island 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.”
Rhode Island’s Fiscal Year 2001 funding report and the
reports for other states are
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