Seattle Public Schools awarded nearly $500,000 to stop school violence
Seattle - About $2 million in U.S. Department of Justice grant funding will flow into Washington State to bolster youth safety, combat gang activity and reduce racial disparities in the juvenile criminal justice system, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran.
“These grants support efforts to intervene early and stop youth crime and violence before it damages our community," said U.S. Attorney Moran. “The grant to Seattle Public Schools may even save lives by stopping school violence before a tragedy happens."
Seattle Public Schools was awarded $496,945 as part of the STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program. The funding will provide students and teachers with training to recognize and respond quickly to violence and to prevent acts of violence. The district will develop threat assessments and crisis intervention teams and an anonymous reporting system for threats, including those from people with mental health issues.
The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services received $872,897 for its work to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the Washington State juvenile justice system. DSHS’ Office of Juvenile Justice is partnering with the Center for Study and Advancement of Justice Effectiveness (a joint operation of the University of Washington and Washington State University) and the Washington State Center for Court research. One goal is to build more culturally responsive and effective services into pre-court diversion.
The Children and Youth Justice Center received a $500,000 grant for its program to reduce gang related criminal activity. The grant monies will be used to expand and enhance gang prevention, gang resistance and intervention programs, and to expand community awareness about gang violence and its negative effects.
Finally, King County received $171,026 in funding for the newly constructed Children and Family Justice Center. The funding will focus on recruiting quality juvenile detention officers for the new facility.
For additional information on individual grants, please contact the recipient organizations. A fact sheet from DOJ is attached to this release.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
