Justice Department Awards More Than $70 Million Dollars To Support Local School Safety Efforts Nationwide

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced that the Department of Justice has awarded a total of $1,370,418 in grant funding to the Minneapolis Public School District, Hennepin County, and to the City of Duluth to support school safety efforts. The grants are authorized by the STOP School Violence Act, which are intended to improve school security by helping students and teachers reduce exposure to risks, prevent acts of violence, and quickly recognize and respond to violent attacks.

“When we send our children to school, a place intended to be full of opportunity for learning and development, safety is paramount,” said U.S. Attorney MacDonald. “This is the first year funding has been awarded under the STOP School Violence Act of 2018 and I am grateful to see these dollars directly supporting our children’s ability to learn and thrive in a safe environment.”

The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) awarded the funds through three funding streams. The grants will provide new technology for reporting systems and other threat deterrent measures; create school safety training and education programs for school administrators, staff, students, and first responders; and support crisis intervention teams.

For additional information on these grants, visit: www.ojp.gov or www.cops.usdoj.gov.

Awards: ¹

FY 2018 STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program: funding will provide training and education on preventing violence and effectively responding to related mental health crises.

• Special School District No. 1 (Minneapolis) - $219,740
• Hennepin County –  $500,000

 
FY 2018 STOP School Violence Threat Assessment and Technology Reporting Program: funding supports training to create and operate threat assessment and crisis intervention teams and to develop technology for local or regional anonymous reporting systems. This technology may be in the form of a mobile phone application, hotline, or website.

• Special School District No. 1 (Minneapolis) - $181,928

 
FY 2018 COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program: funding is for school safety measures including coordination with law enforcement, training for law enforcement to prevent student violence against others and self, target hardening measures, and technology for expedited notification of law enforcement during an emergency.

• The City of Duluth - $468,750

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

1 No funding awarded under the STOP School Violence Act may be used for the provision of a firearm to any person or training in the use of a firearm.