"Funding provided by the Department of Justice is critical to ensuring that our neighborhoods remain drug and violence free," said Senators Snowe and Collins in a joint statement. "The many programs supported by DOJ grants perform vital work all over the state of Maine and we encourage their continued involvement in making sure that all of our communities remain safe."
The funds are allocated as follows: • $328,000 to the Battered Women's Project in Presque Isle for rural domestic violence and child victimization enforcement • $225,000 to Volunteers of America Northern New England Inc in Brunswick for a Weed and Seed program • $107,000 to the Maine Department of Corrections in Augusta for juvenile justice and delinquency prevention • $94,367 to the City of Lewiston for crime prevention through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program • $62,130 to the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point for tribal victim assistance • $41,100 to the Lewiston Police Department for gang resistance education and training The Battered Women's Project is a community-based, private, non-profit organization. Funding awarded to them will be used to strengthen the safety of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and child abuse living in rural areas by creating and enhancing collaborative partnerships between criminal justice agencies, victim services providers and community organizations to respond to crimes and provide services to victims of violence.
The grant awarded to Volunteers of America Northern New England for a Weed and Seed Program will allow law enforcement officials to continue their coordination efforts to reduce juvenile offenses, drug demand, family violence, child abuse, and elder abuse. Community policing goals will continue to connect with and organize community policing groups to improve the quality of life for county residents. Prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies will provide intervention and diversion programs for juvenile offenders aimed at keeping them out of the adult correctional system.
Funding given to the Maine Department of Corrections will be used to support State and local delinquency prevention and intervention efforts and juvenile justice system improvements.
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program allows states, tribes, and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice for any one or more of the following purpose areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court programs; 3) prevention and education programs; 4) corrections and community corrections programs; 5) drug treatment programs; and 6) planning, evaluation, and technology programs.
The goal of the grant awarded to the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point is to plan and implement an innovative three year program to improve the ability of the Tribe to provide direct services to victims of crimes such as child abuse, homicide, elder abuse, driving while intoxicated, and gang violence. The program will offer services which include counseling, referrals, emergency services, court accompaniment, and assistance obtaining victim compensation.
The Gang Resistance Education And Training (GREAT) program is a life-skills competency program designed to provide students with the skills they need to avoid gang pressure and youth violence. The goal of the GREAT program is to train law enforcement officers in a school-based curriculum in which officers provide instruction to school-aged children in life skill competencies, gang awareness, and anti-violence techniques.
The United States Department of Justice aims to ensure fair and impartial administration, enforce the law, defend the interests, and promote justice for all Americans. They ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic and provide Federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime.