PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency Awards Nearly $53 Million in State and Federal Grants

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has approved nearly $53 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, ensure public safety and provide critical services to crime victims," PCCD Chairman Mark Zimmer said. "Nearly every county in the state will benefit from the round of grants approved at the commission's June meeting." 

PCCD allocates federal and state funds to victim service providers and 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 $26 million in federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds, representing victim service providers from each of the 67 counties; $1.8 million in state funds for Victims of Juvenile Offenders (VOJO); $3.6 million in state County Intermediate Punishment (CIP) funds to 39 counties; $14.2 million in state Drug and Alcohol Restrictive Intermediate Punishment (D&A/RIP) funds to 40 counties; $1.8 million in Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction (SAEDR) funds; and $3.3 million in state Violence Prevention Program (VPP) funds to 19 counties. 

VOCA funds support the provision of direct services to meet the physical and emotional needs of crime victims and provide financial support, through the state's Victims' Assistance Compensation Program.  VOJO funds allow counties to provide mandated victim's rights to victims of juvenile offenders as established by Pennsylvania's Crime Victims Act. 

CIP and D&A/RIP funds support the Corbett Administration's Justice Reinvestment Initiative.  These intermediate punishment programs, for non-violent offenders, provide drug and alcohol treatment and other programming.  Eligible offenders are placed in intermediate punishment programs in lieu of incarceration. 

SAEDR funds assist in the development of projects that provide research-based approaches to prevention, intervention, training, treatment, and education services to reduce substance abuse; to create statewide programs to educate about the dangers of substance abuse and increase public awareness of the benefits of a drug-free Pennsylvania; to support development, enhancement, or maintenance of victim impact panels; and to devise statewide programs to educate employers, unions, and employees about the dangers of substance abuse in the workplace. 

VPP funds support the proliferation of high quality and effective juvenile justice and delinquency prevention programs that are cost-effective and produce positive outcomes for youth, families, and communities.

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency's mission is to enhance the quality of criminal and juvenile justice systems, facilitate the delivery of services to victims of crime and assist communities to develop and implement strategies to reduce crime and victimization.

For more information, visit www.pccd.state.pa.us or call 717-265-8497.

Media contact:  Luanne Melia, 717-265-8497

Editor's Note: More information about the awarded grants is online here:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1341734/june_12%2C_2013_pdf.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency