SAN DIEGO – The Board of State and Community Corrections has approved allocating $16.2 million to 27 California counties whose applications for federal justice grants scored highest in their respective population categories.

The funding from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program represents the first year of a three-year cycle. Annual reallocations for the remaining years will depend on the availability of federal JAG funding.

County applicants had some flexibility in how they would spend the money as long as it fit within the guidelines established with input from a survey of stakeholders: education and crime prevention; law enforcement; prosecution, courts and defense.

Thirty two counties had applied for nearly $20 million.

Madera County will use its $220,000 small-county category grant to fight human trafficking, sexual exploitation and internet crimes against children.

Butte County will use its $715,000 medium-county grant to fund a reentry program to help men and women being released from jail under the supervision of probation receive cognitive behavioral therapy and help to keep them from drug use and gang involvement.

Fresno County will use its $1,045,625 large-county grant to target gang-affiliated offenders ages 18 to 30 to create stable environments and address criminogenic needs.

For a list of successful applicants and brief program descriptions, click here.

The new round of grants were delayed by legal issues. Since 2017, the JAG program has been the subject of ongoing litigation between the State of California and the United States Department of Justice over conditions included in the JAG grants related to immigration enforcement. Because the conditions were found to be unconstitutional, there is currently an injunction in place, prohibiting the United States Department of Justice from enforcing the conditions.

For more information contact Daryle McDaniel at 916-341-7392 or at daryle.mcdaniel@bscc.ca.gov

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