SOLANCONEWS.com -- Statewide Crime Fighting Efforts Receive Millions

Statewide Crime Fighting Efforts Receive Millions
HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency has approved $45 million in federal and state grants for programs that support law enforcement and crime fighting efforts, prevent juvenile delinquency and enhance services available to victims of crime. However, federal funding for some of the programs could be in jeopardy.

In January, President Bush signed legislation that slashed the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, or JAG, appropriation from $520 million to $170 million; a 67 percent reduction. At that time, PCCD Chairman Walter M. Phillips Jr. warned that substantial federal funding cuts to grant programs would adversely impact public safety, criminal justice planning and local services for juveniles and victims of crime throughout Pennsylvania.

Since then, Pennsylvania has been awarded $4.1 million in JAG funds, which is down 65 percent from the amount awarded to the state in 2007. A bill to restore the remaining funds was approved last month by the U.S. Senate and is awaiting action in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“PCCD supports efforts to help communities across the commonwealth in areas of public safety, criminal and juvenile justice efforts, and providing help and resources to victims of crime. Restoring federal funding is vital in order to keep these programs in operation statewide,” said Phillips.

The funding announcement includes the following programs: Weed and Seed; Drug and Alcohol Restrictive Intermediate Punishment (D&A RIP); intermediate punishment (IP); school resource officers (SRO); STOP Violence Against Women; Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS); Strengthening Families Program for Parents/Youth (SFP); Big Brothers/Big Sisters; and Bullying Prevention.

As the state’s leading criminal justice planning agency, PCCD works to prevent and reduce crime in Pennsylvania and respond to the needs of victims. PCCD collaborates with state and local elected officials, juvenile and criminal justice agencies, victim service agencies, community-based organizations, non-profits, schools, and others to achieve these goals.

SolancoNews.com is a division of Online Community News ISSN 1554-5415 © 2003-2008
No part of this website may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the editor.