The Justice Department has announced a significant financial commitment to enhance public safety and community justice efforts across the United States. A total of $4 billion in grants will be distributed by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to support various initiatives aimed at reducing violence, assisting crime victims, and improving outcomes for individuals involved in criminal and juvenile justice systems.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the collaborative nature of this initiative, stating, "The Justice Department is working together with our law enforcement and community partners across the country to turn the tide in the fight against violent crime." He highlighted that these funds would advance efforts to decrease violent crime rates, support victims, and build trust between law enforcement agencies and communities.
The funding will be allocated to over 3,800 programs nationwide. These programs are designed to address several key areas: curbing violent crime, addressing victimization, reducing recidivism rates, and strengthening relationships between law enforcement officers and community members. This investment continues the department's ongoing strategy for reducing violent crime since 2021.
A notable component of this initiative is OJP’s Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative. This program has already received more than $270 million in funding as part of broader efforts to reduce gun violence through community-led interventions.
Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer reiterated the department's commitment: “The Department of Justice is committed to supporting violence prevention efforts... expanding services for victims... enhancing our research and data collection capacity.” He noted that these grants are part of longstanding efforts with state, local, and Tribal partners.
The funding aims to foster partnerships between justice systems and community organizations while supporting collaboration between law enforcement officials and behavioral health professionals during crisis responses. It also focuses on providing trauma-informed services for crime victims in underserved areas.
Brent J. Cohen from OJP expressed pride in delivering resources aimed at promoting safety: “Today, we are proud to deliver billions of dollars in additional resources... I look forward to the progress we will continue to make.”
These grants will target five major priorities: promoting safety through established programs like Project Safe Neighborhoods; accelerating justice system reforms; improving juvenile justice effectiveness; expanding access to victim services; advancing science for effective strategies.
More details about these awards can be found on the OJP Grant Awards homepage.