Public SafetyPublic Safety
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R.1) includes $4 billion in Department of Justice grant funding to enhance state, local, and tribal law enforcement efforts, including the hiring of new police officers, to combat violence against women, and to fight internet crimes against children.
This document is intended to provide the public with basic information of potential federal assistance and funding opportunities. Those interested in these or similar programs should contact the appropriate federal and state agencies for detailed information. Please note: Not all applicable programs are included below; the following information is subject to change; and additional requirements, restrictions and guidance may apply.
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
$210 million was included for the firefighter assistance grant program for fire station construction.
Each grant may not exceed $15 million.
Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Department of Homeland Security
Type: Competitive Grant
Purposes: To provide assistance for communities to modify, upgrade or construct state and local fire stations.
Decision Maker: FEMA
Website: www.firegrantsupport.com/AFG/
Email: firegrants@dhs.gov
Phone: 1-866-274-0960 (Help Desk)
SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response)
Grant Program
Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Department of Homeland Security
Type: Competitive Grant
Provision: The Recovery Act waives the cost-share requirement for SAFER grants awarded with fiscal year 2009 and 2010 funding.
Purpose: To help fire departments increase the number of trained "front-line" firefighters available in their communities.
Website: www.firegrantsupport.com/safer/
Email: firegrants@dhs.gov
Phone: 1-866-274-0960 (Help Desk)
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants
$2 billion included for Byrne/JAG program
Vermont will receive $4,972,500 in formula funding
Administrator: Vermont Department of Public Safety
Purpose: The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and to improve the criminal justice system.
Activities: Programs for law enforcement programs; prosecution and courts; prevention and education; corrections and community corrections; drug treatment and enforcement;planning, evaluation, and technology improvement; crime victim and witness programs.Funds can be used to pay for personnel, overtime, and equipment. Funds provided tostates can be used for statewide initiatives, technical assistance and training, and supportfor local and rural jurisdictions.
VT Profile: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/recoveryJAG/recjag/VT.xls
Website: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/recoveryact.html
Phone: (802) 241-5419 (Vermont Department of Public Safety)
Byrne Competitive Grants Program
$225 million to be used for the Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grant Program
Office: Office of Justice Assistance
Agency: Department of Justice
Type: Competitive Grants
Purpose: To prevent crime, improve the administration of justice, provide services to victims ofcrime, support critical nurturing and mentoring of at-risk children and youth, and for othersimilar activities.
Description: In order to stabilize state and local governments and fight crime, funds can be used for a variety of purposes, including equipment, operations and support for other associated law enforcement personnel (such as prosecutors, public defenders, etc.). These funds canalso be used to pay overtime expenses of officers on multi-jurisdictional task forces.
Website: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/
Email: Byrne.Discretionary@usdoj.gov
Phone: 1–866–859–2687 (Bureau of Justice Assistance)
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Grants
$1 billion included for the COPS Hiring Grants program. The $75,000 per officer salary cap and the 25 percent (25%) local
match requirement is waived for funding provided in the stimulus, fiscal year 2009 and 2010 bills.
Office: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
Agency: Department of Justice
Type: Competitive Grant
Purposes: For hiring and rehiring of additional career law enforcement officers.
VT Profile: http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/Cong_Conf_Calls/Quick_Facts/VTqf.pdf
Website: www.cops.usdoj.gov
Email: ask.Cops@usdoj.gov
Phone: 1-800-421-6770 (COPS Office Response Center)
STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program
$175 million in STOP Violence Against Women Formula Assistance Program
Vermont will receive $816,288 in formula funding
Administrator: Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services
Type: Formula funding to state agency
Purpose: STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) formula grants are intended for use by states and territories; state, local and tribal courts (including juvenile courts); Indian tribal governments; local governments; and nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services programs. Recipients are required to meet one or more of 14 statutory purpose areas.These areas include, but are not limited to: training law enforcement officers, judges, court personnel and prosecutors; developing, enlarging, or strengthening victim services programs; developing, installing or expanding data collection; and developing, enlarging,or strengthening programs addressing stalking.
Description: The STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program promotes a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to improving the criminal justice system's response to violent crimes against women. The STOP Program encourages the development and strengthening of effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to address violentcrimes against women and the development and strengthening of victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women.
VT Profile: http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/grant-activities2007.htm#vt
Website: http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/stop_grant_desc.htm
Phone: (802) 241-1250
Transitional Housing Assistance Program
$50 million to be used for transitional housing assistance grant
Office: Office on Violence Against Women
Agency: U.S. Department of Justice
Type: Competitive Grants
Purpose: Provides competitive, peer-reviewed grants to assist victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking who are in need of transitional housing, short-termhousing assistance, and related support services.
Activities: May be used for transitional housing, short-term housing assistance, support services designed to enable individuals who are fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to locate and secure permanent housing and integrate into a community by providing those individuals with services such as transportation, counseling, child care services, case management, employment counseling, and other assistance.
Eligibility: States, units of government, Indian tribes, and other organizations, including domestic violence and sexual assault victim service providers, domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations, or community-based and
culturally specific organizations
Website: http://www.ovw.usdoj.gov/recovery.htm#housing
Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program
$50 million was included for the Internet Crimes Against Children Program
Vermont will receive $403,670 in formula funding
Administrator: Vermont State Police, Department of Public Safety
Type: Formula funding to state agency
Purposes: To help state and local law enforcement agencies enhance investigative responses to offenders who use the internet, online communication systems, or other computer technology to sexually exploit children.
Website: http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/programs/index.html
Phone: (802) 244-8781 (Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation)
Victims Compensation
$100 million to be used for victims of crimes
Vermont will receive $600,000 in formula funding
Administrator: Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services
Type: Formula funding to state agency
Purpose To support state compensation and assistance programs for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, drunk driving, homicide, and other federal and state crimes.
Website: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc
Phone: (802) 241-1250 (Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services)
Rural Law Enforcement
$125 million was included for the Rural Law Enforcement program
Agency: Department of Justice - Office of Justice Assistance
Type: Competitive Grants
Description:
The funding is for grants to combat drug-related crime and other law enforcement activities in rural America.
Website: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/recoveryact.html
Phone: 866-859-2687 (U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance)
