U.S. Department Of Justice Awards Grant Funds To Communities And Institutions In Central Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced awards of grant funds totaling approximately $ 2.8 million by the U.S. Department of Justice to county, city, and local governments, institutions of higher education, and a social service agency in Central Pennsylvania to assist local law enforcement and help reduce domestic violence and violence against women.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch this week announced Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) funding awards to cities and counties in Central Pennsylvania and around the country, aimed at creating and protecting law enforcement positions.  Over $107 million will be awarded nationally through the COPS Hiring Program (CHP), including $1.7 million within the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

The list of this year’s Central Pennsylvania COPS grantees includes the Harrisburg Police Department ($554,978), the City of York ($1,090,917), and the Township of Hanover (Luzerne County)($125,000).

“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in addressing their most critical public safety issues,” said Ronald L. Davis, Director of the COPS Office. “These grants are not simply about putting more officers on the street, they are about expanding the capacity of law enforcement agencies to engage in community policing.”

CHP provides grants to law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides salaries and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.

The COPS Office is responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has invested over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 127,000 officers and provide publications, training, and technical assistance.

For the complete list of grantees and additional information about the 2015 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.

In addition to the COPS grants, the following grants were also awarded by the Department of Justice:

• The Centre County Women’s Resource Center, State College, was awarded a Transitional Housing Assistance Program grant in the amount of $350,000 from the Office on Violence Against Women. The Resource Center is a non-profit organization offering support services to victims of domestic violence and their families. The Transitional Housing Assistance Program provides aid to victims who are homeless, or in need of transitional housing, or other housing assistance, including short-term housing assistance and supportive services.
• Juniata College, Huntingdon, was awarded a Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program of $299,947 from the Office on Violence Against Women. The Campus Program supports activities that develop campus-based responses that include victim services, law enforcement, health providers, housing officials, administrators, student leaders, faith-based organizations, student organizations, and disciplinary boards.  The intent is to enhance victim safety and assistance and to hold offenders accountable.
• Juniata, in partnership with the Abuse Network, Huntingdon House, Michael J. Ayers Law Project, the District Attorney’s Office of Huntingdon County, the Huntingdon Borough Police, and the J.C. Blair Hospital, will improve the response to sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking, establish a mandatory student prevention and educational program for incoming students, and implement training for campus law enforcement and administrators.
• Messiah College, Mechanicsburg, was awarded a Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program grant of $298,910 from the Office on Violence Against Women.
• Messiah, in partnership with the Carlisle YWCA and the Upper Allen Township Police Department, will continue implementation of a mandatory student prevention and educational program for incoming students, strengthen its response to address the prevention of incidents of sexual assault, domestic and dating violence and stalking, expand training opportunities for campus constituencies, and provide training to campus law enforcement and administrators.
• Dauphin County was awarded a $72,142 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
• The grant allows local governments to support activities to prevent and control crimes based on their own needs and conditions.Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice. The jurisdictions can use the grant to fund victim advocate positions, purchase licenses for countywide police records management system, and a Crimewatch website fee for service to enhance technology available for officers as they engage in community policing.
• The City of York was awarded a $60,699 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
• The grant funds can be used for law enforcement programs, prosecution and court programs, prevention and education, corrections and community corrections programs, drug treatment and enforcement programs, planning, evaluation and technology improvement, and crime victim and witness programs. JAG funds are also used to replace office supplies, firearms, and tasers.Additionally, funds will be used for a youth outreach program and subscription fees for investigative services.
• The City of Scranton was awarded an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance grant in the amount of $19,390 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The City of Scranton will use the grant to purchase police cruisers to better protect and serve the citizens of Scranton.

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