Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2007, $247,539)
The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program, administered by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP's) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), furthers the Department's mission by assisting state and local jurisdictions in improving the criminal justice system and assisting communities in preventing drug abuse and crime. In fiscal year 2007, the Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program will focus on funding local, regional, and national efforts within six major categories: 1) targeting violent crime; 2) preventing crime and drug abuse; 3) enhancing local law enforcement; 4) enhancing local courts; 5) enhancing local corrections and offender reentry; and 6) facilitating justice information sharing. All categories combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime.
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will utilize Category II Preventing Crime and Drug Abuse funds to support a gang awareness and prevention program. The program will facilitate collaboration, information sharing, and coordination among local, regional, and state law enforcement, as well as provide gang awareness and prevention strategies to community organizations, schools, and other organizations that serve youth. This strategy is designed to focus on education and awareness about gangs and gang violence, and to help discourage criminal street gang participation.
The OAG will accomplish the following goals: hire a gang awareness coordinator to deliver gang awareness presentations, and to provide guidance and support to law enforcement and communities to assist them with their gang prevention efforts; design and distribute gang awareness materials; and deliver a training program to educate both the public and private sectors on the legal and social issues involved in curbing gang violence in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Federal funds will cover personnel, local travel, equipment (computer hardware and accessories), general supplies, and contracts (prevention and education materials, and conference rental fees).
CA/NCF