HARRISBURG –Acting U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler announced that the Department of Justice’s Office of Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has awarded over $236,000 of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant to the City of Scranton, City of Wilkes-Barre, City of York, and Dauphin County.
These grants are used to support activities to prevent and control crime based on local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice, including for any one or more of the following program areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court programs; 3) prevention and education programs; 4) corrections and community corrections programs; 5) drug treatment and enforcement programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and 7) crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation) and 8) mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams. Funded programs or initiatives may include multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces, crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, justice information sharing initiatives, or other programs aimed at reducing crime and/or enhancing public/officer safety.
“This JAG funding enables the Wilkes-Barre Police Department to continue with its plans to provide necessary services to the residents of the City of Wilkes-Barre with the flexibility to prioritize and place funds where they are needed the most,” said City of Wilkes-Barre’s Mayor George C. Brown.
“These grants will address the needs of local communities to fight crime, train police, and increase victim services,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Brandler. “These are all important goals and I am pleased the Department of Justice can contribute to these worthy causes.”
