Skip to main content
Press Release

Acting U.S. Attorney Announces Nearly $2.4 Million in Grants to Combat Violent Crime

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of New York
Awards Are Part of More than $458 Million in Justice Department Funding Announced by Attorney General Barr

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Acting U.S. Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon today announced more than $2.3 million in Department of Justice grants to fight and prevent violent crime in the thirty-two counties that make up the Northern District of New York. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of more than $458 million in funding to support state, local and tribal law enforcement efforts to combat violent crime in jurisdictions across the United States.

“One of the fundamental missions of government is to protect its citizens and safeguard the rule of law,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The Department of Justice will continue to meet this critical responsibility by doing everything within its power to help our state, local and tribal law enforcement and criminal justice partners fight crime and deliver justice on behalf of all Americans.”

The funding announced today continues the Trump Administration’s commitment to reducing crime and improving public safety. In the two years before President Trump took office, America had experienced a precipitous rise in crime, particularly in serious violent crime. The President elevated community safety to the top of his domestic agenda and crime rates have fallen steadily since. Recent data from the FBI and the Bureau of Justice Statistics for 2019 show a drop in crime and serious victimization for the third year in a row. However, a number of cities are experiencing conspicuous countertrends. These grants will bolster crime-fighting efforts in those communities and in jurisdictions throughout the United States.

“Violence has become a tragic reality in too many of America’s communities,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “Working with officials across the Trump Administration and with thousands of state, local and tribal crime-fighters across the country, the Department of Justice is leading the response to this urgent challenge. OJP is pleased to make these resources available to support innovative, tested and diverse solutions to violent crime.”

“We cannot rest until all members of our community can live free from the fear of violent crime,” said Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon.   “These grants will support research and evaluation on policing and efforts to improve the criminal history program.  I am grateful for this important work in the Northern District of New York. “

Of the more than $458 million awarded nationwide, OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance made 1,094 grants totaling more than $369 million to support a broad range of initiatives, including efforts in enforcement, prosecution, adjudication, detention and rehabilitation.

OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention awarded more than $10 million across 24 jurisdictions to intervene in and suppress youth gang activity as well as $1 million to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research to continue operating the National Gang Center. OJP’s National Institute of Justice awarded $7.8 million to fund research and evaluation on the prevention and reduction of violent crime. OJP’s Bureau of Justice Statistics provided more than $69 million to strengthen the quality and accessibility of records within the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

The following local organizations received funding:

The John Finn Institute for Public Safety received $619,648 under the Research and Evaluation on Policing, FY 2020.  According to their project abstract, the purpose of the project is to conduct research to illuminate the forms of investigative activities and evidence that contribute to investigative and prosecutorial outcomes, including an experimental evaluation of a systematic effort to better exploit video and audio technology for investigative and prosecutorial purposes among cases involving firearms. The goals are to deepen the current understanding of whether and how specific forms of investigative activities contribute to (or detract from) case clearances and prosecutions. Researchers will also conduct a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of systematically supplementing the efforts of sworn criminal investigators with those of crime analysts in tapping specific available investigative resources.  They will partner with the Syracuse Police Department.

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services received $1,700,000 under the National Criminal History Improvement Program, FY 2020.  Through the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), the Bureau of Justice Statistics provides direct awards and technical assistance to states and localities to improve the quality, timeliness, and immediate accessibility of criminal history records and related information. Complete records require that data from all components of the criminal justice system be integrated and linked, including law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and corrections. NCHIP assists states to establish the integrated infrastructure that meets the needs of all components.

For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

Updated November 2, 2020

Topic
Grants