WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice announced yesterday that it has awarded more than $295.8 million to improve public safety, serve victims of crime and support youth programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Attorney General William P. Barr stated yesterday: “American Indian and Alaska Native communities experience rates of violent crime and domestic abuse that are among the highest in the nation. The awards announced today underscore the Department of Justice’s deep commitment to improving public safety in tribal communities throughout the United States. This administration will continue to work closely with our tribal partners to guarantee that they have the resources they need to combat violence and bring criminals to justice."
The announcement included grants of more than $1.4 million to the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and $1.1 million to the Oneida Indian Nation, both situated within the Northern District of New York. The grants will be used to support law enforcement and tribal justice practices, expand victim services, and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts.
Separately, the Office on Violence Against Women awarded the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe $100,000 to help victims of domestic violence and decrease incidents of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Three Sisters Program, a secure shelter that provides services to victims of abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault, will administer the award.
Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon stated: “These grants help support important justice and police programs, maintain vital services to victims of crime, and help protect those most vulnerable from domestic violence, sexual assault and gender-based violence. We look forward to continuing to work with our law enforcement partners in the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and the Oneida Indian Nation to promote public safety."
Nationwide, more than $103 million was awarded under the Justice Department’s Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) to enhance law enforcement and tribal justice practices, expand victim services, and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts. Of that amount, the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) awarded $41.5 million, the Office on Violence Against Women awarded $39.1 million, and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services awarded $22.5 million.
The Department also announced awards totaling $113 million to 133 applicants under the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program. This program is designed to help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims of crime and promote other public safety initiatives.
In addition to the CTAS and Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside awards, the Office on Violence Against Women made additional tribal awards of more than $31 million to support a wide range of efforts to address the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking.
A full listing of all the announced CTAS awards is available.
A full listing of all Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program awards is available.
For more information on the Office of Justice Programs, please visit: https://www.ojp.gov/. For more information on the Office on Violence Against Women, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/ovw. For more information on the COPS Office, please visit: https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
