Justice Dept. Awards Nearly $500 M for Violent Crime Prevention

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) announced today that every state and U.S. territory has received FY 2001 funding for combating violent and drug-related crime through the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Program.

This program, administered through OJP's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), provides grants to designated state agencies to develop statewide strategies and coordinate distribution of funds. States receive awards based on the state's population. a total of $498 million has been distrubuted by BJA under this program in FY 2001.

"Communities across the nation use this money to fight gangs, guns and drugs, which are at the root of the crime problem in this country," said OJP's Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary Lou Leary. For additional information about the OJP and its programs, go to the OJP Website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov.