Alabama agencies and cities receive over $5 million in grants for crime prevention and control | News

The Justice Department awarded $5,150,726 in grant money to Alabama agencies and cities in the Middle District of Alabama announced George L. Beck, Jr., United States Attorney Middle District of Alabama.  The money is to be used for crime prevention and crime control in the form of state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice; to decrease the time necessary for DNA analysis; and aid in juvenile delinquent rehabilitation.  The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) Law Enforcement and Traffic Safety Division, the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center received very large grants from the Department of Justice.  Alexander City, Auburn, Montgomery, Phenix City, and Tuskegee also received grant funds from the Justice Department.   

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) Law Enforcement and Traffic Safety Division received the largest grant of $3,365,270.  This funding will be used to support the drug and violent crime task forces around the State of Alabama as well as to purchase needed equipment for those task forces.  ADECA was also awarded a separate grant of $421,875.  Those funds will be used to improve the juvenile justice system and reduce juvenile delinquency.  Specifically, this grant will be used to improve youth mentoring, aid in the prevention of truancy and dropouts, implement graduated sanctions for juveniles involved in the court system, and increase parent and family assistance.

The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences obtained $1,116,829 in grant funds.  These funds will be used to update equipment used to process DNA samples which will allow such samples to be analyzed more effectively and efficiently.  

The Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center was granted $70,000.  This award will help officers fight crime by making secure internet tools available to law enforcement agencies and by aiding in the production of annual statistical publications including:  Crime in Alabama 2012, Domestic Violence in Alabama 2012, Juvenile Victims of Violent Crime in Alabama 2012, and Drug arrests in Alabama 2012. 

Alexander City received $12,905 in grant funds.  With that money, Alexander City plans to purchase shotgun racks, flashlights kits, wearable cameras, a rifle with accessories and to improve technology and data management.  Auburn obtained $34,992 in funding and intends to use the funds to purchase radar units, a breath taking unit, a desktop computer, a mobile reconnaissance robot and a patrol vehicle fuel conversion unit.  Montgomery was awarded a $83,346 grant and will purchase waist chains, traffic vests, handcuffs, body microphones, leg irons and provide training with the money.  Phenix City got $13,591 in grant awards and plans to purchase fitness and training equipment including an elliptical machine, treadmills, and kettle balls.  Tuskegee received $13,918 and will use the funds to purchase a vehicle and updated equipment for officers. 

“We must make sure our law enforcement officers have all the tools necessary to vigorously combat crime in this District,” stated U.S. Attorney George Beck. “These grants will allow law enforcement to purchase those tools necessary to protect the citizens as well as protect the law enforcement officers while fighting crime.  I am proud that the Department of Justice chose to allocate grant money to these cities and agencies to prevent and control crime in our community.” 

Source:  United States Department of Justice, Middle Disctrict