Georgia Receives Over $10.7 Million for Local Law Enforcement Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Georgia was awarded $853,057 today under the Justice Department's Local Law Enforcement Block Grants Program. These funds will be used by the state to reduce crime and improve public safety in local jurisdictions.

The Local Law Enforcement Block Grants Program, now in its second year, is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Justice Department agency that supports implementation of comprehensive criminal justice strategies developed by each state and territory. BJA also supports state and local efforts through testing innovative approaches in preventing and controlling crime.

"Georgia can use these funds to build on efforts initiated with last year's LLEBG grants," said BJA Director Nancy Gist. "We are proud to work with the states through the LLEBG program to assist them to prevent crime and make their streets safer."

Based on the program's formula as established by Congress, jurisdictions are awarded a specific amount based on the level of the most serious, violent crimes. Jurisdictions whose award would be $10,000 or more receive funds directly from BJA. The aggregate of all of the awards smaller than $10,000 is provided to the state. Georgia intends to use the funds to make awards to units of local government that did not qualify for direct awards, and to state police departments that provide services to local units of government.

In addition to this direct state award, 98 jurisdictions in Georgia are eligible for awards totaling over $9.9 million to reduce crime and improve public safety. Among the larger awards are $3,784,248 for Atlanta, $862,423 for DeKalb County, and $355,417 for Savannah.

Last year, Georgia received over $9.8 million under the LLEBG program. The state received $899,573 to distribute to local jurisdictions that were not eligible for direct awards, and over 75 jurisdictions that qualified for direct awards received over $8.9 million.

The Omnibus Fiscal Year 1997 Appropriations Act, Public Law 104-208, provided $523 million for the Local Law Enforcement Block Grants Program. States have two years from the date of the initial award by BJA to expend the funds. At the end of that two-year period, the state must return remaining funds to BJA.

For further information at the state level, please contact John Clower, Georgia Children and Youth Coordinating Council, at 404/559-4949.

# # #

BJA 98-007-GA

After hours page Doug Johnson at 1-888/582-6753