RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today announced that the Governor's Crime Commission (GCC) is awarding $21.96 million to state and local agencies to improve community security and assist crime victims. The money will provide assistance for a range of programs including efforts to fight juvenile delinquency, assist victims of domestic violence, provide modern equipment and technology for local law enforcement agencies, stop gang activity and fight drug abuse.
“It is critical that our local law enforcement agencies have the tools and equipment they need to keep our communities secure and safe,” said Easley. “These grants will provide needed technology for our local officers and bolster efforts to prevent domestic violence, child abuse and gang activity.”
There are 42 members of the commission, 36 voting and six non-voting, including the governor, chief justice of the State Supreme Court, the attorney general, director of the administrative office of courts, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, secretary of the Department of Correction, director of the SBI, secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, a superior court judge, a district court judge, a chief district court judge, a district attorney, a defense attorney, three sheriffs, three police executives, six citizens, three county commissioners and three municipal officials, as well as two members of the state House of Representatives and two members of the state Senate. Those who are not named to the commission by virtue of their office are appointed by the governor while the legislators are appointed by the leader of their respective chamber. The commission is housed within the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. Each year, the GCC administers the federal grants by setting up committees to review grant applications, based on the criteria set out in federal law for each of four categories. The committees review applications and make recommendations to the full commission.
Funding for GCC grants is appropriated annually by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of Justice for distribution to the states in four categories: Drug Control and System Improvement; Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; Victim of Crime Act; and Violence Against Women Act programs. These grants were first awarded in 1969.
Total federal funding for the grants dropped from $26.9 million last year to $21.9 million this year. Despite the decline in funds, the commission awarded grants to 216 agencies, 23 more than last year. The state Department of Crime Control and Public Safety will be getting $2.3 million to fight gang activity, improve the state's fingerprint identification network, provide school-based crime prevention programs and improve the state's emergency communications network (VIPER). The Administrative Office of the Courts is receiving $2.3 million for dealing with domestic violence, child abuse and other family-related issues. Nearly $850,000 will be devoted to upgrading the state's automated system that helps notify crime victims on custody status and court information of convicts. More than $400,000 is being directed for enhancing sex offender tracking technology, including updating and improving Web site data.
Click here for a list of the grants awarded, broken down by county, recipient agency, project name and grant amount.