Department of Justice allocates $11.8 million in funds to California cities and counties – KION546

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. (KIONT-TV/CNN) The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs announced that hundreds of communities and organizations are receiving or are eligible to receive a tranche of $1.6 billion in grants to support a wide range of programs designed to reduce violent crime.

Among these grants for fiscal year 2021, the Justice Assistance Grant program will share more than $271.9 million – $187 million to 56 state law enforcement agencies and more than $84.9 million to more of 900 cities and counties. The JAG program budget has increased from fiscal year 2020 when $235 million was awarded.

California alone received $11.8 million in funding in 2021.

JAG funds can be used to support a wide range of activities and fund programs or initiatives which may include “multi-jurisdictional drug and gang task forces, crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, court information sharing initiatives or other programs. aimed at reducing crime and/or improving public/officer safety,” according to the program description.

Of the communities awarded in 2021, Monterey County received $88.6 thousand in total, including $69.74 thousand for the city of Salinas. Santa Cruz County received $22.9 thousand. Santa Clara County received $357,000 and San Jose $330,400. San Mateo County received $23.7 thousand.

“The Department of Justice is committed to supporting our state and local partners in fighting crime across the country,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a Dec. 20 statement. professionals, victim service providers, local agencies and non-profit organizations face these serious challenges.