Over $6 Million in Anti-Crime Funds Awarded to Support Criminal Justice Efforts in Michigan

Governor Rick Snyder has announced that criminal justice agencies across Michigan will receive over $6 million in federal grants to strengthen anti-drug and crime fighting efforts. The funding is made possible through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) Program and the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners (RSAT) Program.

"These grants will be used to enhance public safety in our state by combating drug and violence," said Snyder. "This funding will help build stronger communities through increased enforcement, prevention and treatment efforts throughout the criminal justice system."

Byrne JAG funds support all aspects of the criminal justice system, and this year's award focus on school safety, multi-jurisdictional drug task forces, priority population drug efforts, data-driven policing, juvenile-focused community policing, indigent defense and prosecutorial efforts.

RSAT funds support the development and implementation of residential substance abuse treatment programs in correctional facilities.

Agencies receiving funding have until Sept. 30, 2014 to spend their funds. A complete list of the awarded programs is available at www.michigan.gov/cjgrants.

Byrne grants are named in honor of New York City Police Officer Edward Byrne who was fatally shot by drug traffickers in 1988 while protecting a witness in a drug case.