The U.S. Justice Department yesterday announced more than $11 million in grants to address neighborhood-level crime in 15 locations nationwide. The awards, administered through the department's new Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) program, will target locations or neighborhoods with significant levels of crime compared to the overall jurisdiction. The announcement was made in Brooklyn, where the Center for Court Innovation got $600,000 to focus on the Brownsville neighborhood.
“While overall crime rates have continued to decline nationwide, some neighborhoods have experienced troubling increases in specific types of criminal activity which is why the Department and our partners are providing additional resources to communities that need them the most,” said Attorney General Holder. Other awardees yesterday include the Institute for Public Stategies, Chula Vista, CA, $1,000,000; Lowell, MA, $900,000; Baltimore, MD, $938,773; Detroit Crime Commission, $1,000,000; Omaha, NE, $446,336; Westminister Foundation, Buffalo, NY, $962,765; East End Community Services Corp., $596, 560, Dayton, OH; Multnomah County District Attorney's Office, Portland, OR; $ 599,995; Mt. Vernon Manor, Inc., Philadelphia,
$599,982; Austin, TX, $1,000,000; Housing Authority of San Antonio, TX, $600,000; Seattle, $978,461; Milwaukee, WI, $600,000, and Charleston, W.VA., $ 475,698.