More Funds for Cities in $1.6B DOJ Crimefighting Package

The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs has announced that hundreds of communities and organizations are being awarded or are eligible to receive a slice of $1.6 billion in grant awards to support a wide range of programs designed to reduce violent crime, reports CNN. The Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program will share more than $271.9 million — $187 million to 56 state law enforcement agencies and over $84.9 million to more than 900 cities and counties. The budget for the JAG program increased from fiscal year 2020 where $235 million was awarded.

The JAG funds can be used to support a broad range of activities and fund programs or initiatives that may include “multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces, crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, justice information sharing initiatives, or other programs aimed at reducing crime and/or enhancing public/officer safety,” according to the program’s description. The largest JAG state recipients include $19,447,453 to California’s Board of State and Community Corrections, $14,531,729 to the office for the Governor of Texas, and $10,886,155 to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

See also: New DOJ $$s to Combat Online Child Exploitation, Improve Reentry Services