FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? OJP
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2001??????????????????????????????????????????? ????????? ????????????? ??????????? 202/307-0703
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AWARDS GUAM OVER $6 MILLION? IN 2001
WASHINGTON, DC -- In Fiscal Year 2001, the Department
of Justice (DOJ) awarded more than $6 million to the Territory of Guam 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).????? Guam?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 $6 million demonstrates our solid
commitment to Guam?s significant local efforts.?
More than $4 million awarded to Guam went to law
enforcement, by far the largest funding category.? $1.53 million went to juvenile justice programs, $740,000 to
substance abuse programs and $390,000 to victims? programs.? The summary includes both large grants
awarded by formula to Guam 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.?
Guam?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 Guam?s funding
contact the Guam 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.
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