TAFT ANNOUNCES BYRNE MEMORIAL GRANTS FOR
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS ACROSS OHIO
COLUMBUS (December 4, 2002) - Governor Bob Taft today announced $12.4 million in federal Byrne Memorial Grants to nearly 190 law enforcement, criminal justice and victim programs across Ohio. These awards will fund projects that strive to reduce crime and increase the effectiveness, fairness and coordination of state and local level criminal justice systems. Byrne Grant awards are distributed annually by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS).
"We are pleased to award these funds to fight drugs, assist victims of crime, and promote homeland security efforts across Ohio," Governor Taft said. "These agencies deserve to be commended for working hard to protect their communities."
Funding areas include: Law Enforcement Task Forces; Community Crime Prevention/Community Policing; Alternatives to Detention, Jail and Prison for Non-Violent Offenders; Victim Services; Innovative Approaches to Enforcement, Prosecution and Adjudication; Treatment Programs for Drug and Alcohol Dependent Offenders; Criminal Justice Information Systems; and Homeland Security/Anti-Terrorism. Projects begin January 1, 2003 and end December 31, 2003.
Following are award amounts for local projects in Ohio's more densely populated
counties:
§ Cuyahoga: $1,392,246
§ Franklin: $1,716,025
§ Hamilton: $641,600
§ Lucas: $690,727
§ Mahoning: $393,743
§ Montgomery: $376,809
§ Stark: $148,504
§ Summit: $545,537
Total amount for statewide Projects (project that impact the entire state, not just one local area or region): $1,610,837
Ohio projects funded through Byrne Memorial Grant awards include: drug task forces, domestic violence shelters, Neighborhood Watch and school resource officer programs, homeland security preparedness, justice technology initiatives, drug and mental health courts, and training programs for law enforcement. Byrne funds are designed as seed money to establish new and promising programs that improve the criminal and juvenile justice systems.
A list of awardees can be found on the OCJS web site at: www.ocjs.oh.gov.
# # #
Contact: Stephanie McCarty, OCJS, at (614) 466-1830; or
Joe Andrews, Governor's Office, at (614) 644-0957.