U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Nearly $16.5 Million In Federal Grants Awarded To Western District Of North Carolina To Support Community Safety

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that $16,470,958 in federal grants has been allocated to the Western District of North Carolina to support public safety and community justice initiatives. The grants are part of the $4.4 billion in funding awarded by the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), to help build community capacity to curb violence, serve victims and youth, and achieve fair outcomes through evidence-based criminal and juvenile justice strategies.

“Everyone in this country deserves to be safe in their communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “That is why, in addition to continuing our efforts to identify and prosecute the most violent criminals, the Justice Department is putting every available resource to work to support the efforts of our law enforcement and community partners nationwide. This significant investment will go directly to state and local programs that support the victims of crime, support officer safety and wellness, build the public trust in law enforcement essential to public safety, and help make all of our communities safer.”

The more than 3,700 OJP grants being awarded this fiscal year will support state, local, and community-based efforts and evidence-based interventions that reduce violence, crime, and recidivism while delivering treatment and services to those at-risk of justice system involvement. Funding will expand partnerships between criminal justice professionals and behavioral health experts, help people safely and successfully transition from confinement back to their communities, reach crime victims in underserved areas, steer young people away from justice system contact, improve the management of sex offenders, and support a wide range of research and statistical activities that will help justice system professionals meet community safety challenges.

In the Western District of North Carolina, nearly $9 million has been awarded under OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to the cities of Asheville, Boone, Charlotte (and Mecklenburg County), Gastonia (and Gaston County), Monroe, Morganton, Newton, Shelby, and Statesville. BJA provides leadership and assistance to local criminal justice programs that improve and reinforce the nation’s criminal justice system. BJA’s goals are to reduce and prevent crime, violence, and drug abuse and to improve the way in which the criminal justice system functions. BJA funding announcements are posted at: https://www.bja.gov/funding.aspx.

In addition, more than $6.5 million has been awarded to the City of Newton and the National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues, Inc. (National PAL) in Charlotte under OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). A component of the OJP within the Department of Justice, OJJDP works to prevent and respond to youth delinquency and protect children by sponsoring research, program, and training initiatives, disseminating information about juvenile justice issues, and awarding funds to support local programming. OJJDP funding announcements are posted at: https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding.

Lastly, $1 million has been awarded to Mecklenburg County under OJP’s National Institute on Justice (NIJ). NIJ is the research, development and evaluation agency of the Department of Justice, dedicated to improving knowledge and understanding of crime and justice issues through science. NIJ funding announcements are posted at: https://nij.ojp.gov/funding.
 

“Across the country, the Justice Department is working side-by-side with our partners in state and local law enforcement to combat violent crime by using our federal resources to amplify their work on the front lines,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “The billions of dollars in grants announced today will augment those efforts and the tools law enforcement is using to curb violence, counter deadly drug abuse, and promote safety and public trust. Together with our state and local partners, the Department will continue to do everything we can to protect the communities we all serve.”

“The Department of Justice is investing in community-based approaches to violence prevention, law enforcement health and wellness, Tribal courts, improved services for victims, research and data collection efforts, reentry programs, and much more,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “The grants announced today further our commitment to working with our state, Tribal, and local partners to increase public safety, build police-community trust, and ensure safe, healthy, and just communities for all.”

“Every sector of our society — not only the justice system, but nonprofit and faith-based groups, local leaders, and advocates, and people with lived experience who serve as credible messengers — plays a critical role in ensuring public safety and public health,” said OJP Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon. “The Office of Justice Programs is proud to make these substantial investments in building community infrastructure and supporting communities as co-producers of safety and justice.”

In addition, OJP will award more than $611 million to continue its support of other previously funded programs and congressionally directed spending. More information about the awards announced today can be found by visiting www.ojp.gov/funding/fy23awards.