FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2007 WWW.USDOJ.GOV OPA (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888 Additional Funding Further Demonstrates the Departments Commitment to Rebuild New Orleans Criminal Justice System WASHINGTON Together with federal, state and local officials, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales today participated in the opening ceremony for the New Orleans Family Justice Center, where he announced more than $21 million in grants to New Orleans and the surrounding area from the Departments Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
The New Orleans Family Justice Center is a public-private partnership modeled after the Presidents Family Justice Center Initiative, and administered by OVW, where victims of domestic violence find comprehensive services in one central location. The Family Justice Center is the 16th federally-funded Family Justice Center to open nationwide, and the second in Louisiana. The grants I am announcing today show the Department's continued commitment to reducing crime in New Orleans, and rebuilding the communities that were impacted by Hurricane Katrina, said Attorney General Gonzales. These funds are specially targeted to law enforcement, local governments and community organizations to help return this great city and the surrounding area to the sense of safety and community it knew before the storm. Of the funds the Attorney General announced today, more than $2.4 million come from The Office of Violence Against Women, and will be distributed to Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, City of West Monroe, Family Counseling Agency, Inc., Lafayette Parish Sheriffs Office, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault and YWCA of Northwest Louisiana.
More than $3.8 million from OJP will be distributed to City of New Orleans, New Orleans Police Foundation, New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, Lincoln Parish, St. Charles Parish Sheriff, City of West Monroe, City of Slidell, Calcasieu Parish Sheriffs Department, Ascension Parish Sheriffs Office, East Feliciana Parish Sheriffs Office, Jefferson Davis Sheriffs Office, St. James Parish Sheriffs Office, East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office, City of Bossier City, St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs Department, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriffs Office, City of Opelousas, Terrebonne Parish Sheriffs Office, Rapides Parish Sheriff, Lafayette Parish Sheriffs Office, City of Natchitoches, West Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office, Livingston Parish Sheriffs Office, Iberia Parish Sheriff Department, Parish of Vernon, Ouachita Parish, Lafourche Parish Sheriff, City of Gretna, Iberville Parish Sheriffs Office, St. Landry Parish Sheriffs Department, City of Kenner, City of Denham Springs, City of Bogalusa, City of Thibodaux, City of Tallulah, Louisiana State University; A&M College, City of Baton Rouge; Parish of East Baton Rouge,and Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement.
Todays announcement also included COPS awards totaling more than $15 million through three different COPS programs; the Secure Our Schools program, the COPS Technology Program, and the COPS Methamphetamine Initiative. Funds will be distributed to Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Department, City of New Orleans, City of Shreveport, Louisiana State Police, Ascension Parish, Ouachita Parish, Tangipahoa Parish and Union Parish.
The Department of Justice recognizes the challenges facing the city of New Orleans and the surrounding area, and is committed to working with state and local law enforcement, local officials, community organizations, and others to improve the lives of those living in the area. More information on COPS, OJP, or OVW can be found at http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/ , http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ , and http://www.usdoj.gov/ovw. 07-667
Source: US Department of Justice
