Federal grants awarded totaling more than $6 million benefit communities in the Southern District of Georgia

SAVANNAH, GA: The U.S. Department of Justice has announced more than $6 million in Fiscal Year 2024 grants awarded to agencies and entities to support law enforcement and public safety initiatives benefiting the Southern District of Georgia.

These federal grants are awarded by congressional designation from the Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance through Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending Provisions, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

"Whether assisting local agencies in providing mental health or legal services or in purchasing essential equipment for first responders, these grants will help local communities across the Southern District to protect their citizens and improve outcomes for the vulnerable," said U.S. Attorney Steinberg.

Agencies receiving the 2024 Community Project Funding include:

• Augusta-Richmond County Government: $1,007,000.
  • An award for $690,000 will enable the Richmond County Sheriff's Office to implement the Law Enforcement Body-Warn Camera Technology Upgrades Program, providing more advanced body-worn cameras for personnel to replace cameras in use since the office first implemented the program in 2015.
  • A second award for $317,000 will assist the sheriff's office in implementing a Mental Health Response Team, creating a "co-responder effort" to provide services to individuals in active mental health crises or needing follow-up care.
• Glynn County: $3.7 million.

This award will provide multi-jurisdictional funding in Glynn County to replace radio communications systems used by agencies including the Glynn County Police Department, the Glynn County Sheriff's Office, GB911, Brunswick Police Department, and Glynn County Emergency Management Agency, serving the mainland and barrier island communities of Glynn County.

• Community Service Board of Middle Georgia in Dublin, Ga.: $1.356 million.

This award will provide funding for implementation of a Behavioral Health and Overdose Reduction Initiative for 16 underserved and largely rural Georgia counties, including Bleckley, Burke, Dodge, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Pulaski, Screven, Telfair, Treutlen, Wheeler, and Wilcox counties.

• The Georgia Justice Project in Atlanta: $475,000.

This grant includes funding for a Second Chance Desk for residents in Richmond and Burke counties. The Second Chance Desk will provide a projected 120-150 individuals with consultation and services to clear criminal histories that are no longer relevant, allowing low- to moderate-income residents to take advantage of Georgia's expungement laws. The funding also will provide similar assistance in Cobb, Athens-Clarke, and Oconee counties.

Funding from the Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending Provisions, designated by Congress with funding through the Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance, seeks to support projects designated for funding in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, to prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and to assist victims of crime (other than compensation).

More information on the implementation of these grants is available from the individual recipient agencies, and from the U.S. Department of Justice grants information page at justice.gov/grants.

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