PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency Awards Nearly $4 Million in State and Federal Grants

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has approved nearly $4 million in state and federal grants.

"As evidenced by these awards, PCCD continues its commitment to Pennsylvania's communities as we work together to implement and continue programs that prevent crime and ensure public safety," said PCCD Chairman Mark Zimmer.  "Despite dwindling state and federal dollars, nearly every county in the state will benefit from the round of grants approved at the commission's March meeting."

PCCD allocates federal and state funds to victims, victim service providers, criminal and juvenile justice and ancillary agencies, serving as a resource to help communities improve the administration of justice in a variety of ways.

Among its awards, PCCD appropriated $1.08 million in federal Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) funds to 52 counties. The program provides communities with money to help reduce juvenile delinquency, improve the juvenile justice system and increase the accountability of juvenile offenders and the system that serve them. Communities can use the money to help offset the costs of staff, information-sharing initiatives, community corrections programs and police/probation/school partnerships.

In addition to awarding JABG funds, the commission also awarded $1.58 million in federal grants from the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program and $656,498 from the Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement program.

JAG provides states and local governments with the funding necessary to support a range of programs including law enforcement, prosecution and courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, technology improvement and crime victim and witness initiatives. 

The federal Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement program provides states and local governments with tools needed to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services.

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency's mission is to enhance the quality and coordination of criminal and juvenile justice systems, facilitate the delivery of services to victims of crime and increase the safety of our communities.

For more information, visit www.pccd.state.pa.us or call 717-705-0888.

Media contact: Melanie Horvath, 717-265-8470

Editor's Note: More information about the awarded grants is online here:

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/commission_awarded_grants/19109/march_13,_2012/1113652

SOURCE Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency