Michael F. Easley  Governor

State of North Carolina Office of the Governor

WILMINGTON-Gov. Mike Easley announced today that the Governor's Crime Commission is awarding more than $26 million in federal grant money to local government agencies and community groups across the state. The grants help at-risk youth, victims of domestic violence, law enforcement officers and courts with resources they need to protect North Carolina citizens.

Gov. Easley visited one of the grant programs in Wilmington for at-risk youth. The "Kids Making It" woodworking program teaches a practical skill and helps youth develop self-esteem as they build items for community groups and themselves.

"This program and others like it have already made a big impact on children by keeping them off the streets and out of trouble," Easley said. "These grants have clearly reduced the number of repeat offenders with the juvenile justice system, helped equip law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to protect citizens and provided relief to crime victims."

Easley has directed more than $5 million to help keep at-risk youth away from criminal activity. Another $10 million will support domestic violence programs. More than $6 million will go for drug control and substance abuse programs, and $4 million will go toward law enforcement communications and technology.

"This funding supports critical services and law enforcement efforts as well as crime prevention," said Secretary Bryan Beatty of the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. "When juveniles are deterred from crime, law enforcement agencies have the tools they need and the incidents of substance abuse are reduced, every citizen benefits."

This year's funds will be disbursed among more than 300 local and state agencies in North Carolina. The commission, a division of Crime Control and Public Safety, administers the grants. Congress appropriates the money to the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for distribution to the state.