Grants for Gang Violence Prevention Programs in Texas
The Texas Governor's provides multiple grants to various counties as part of a program to combat drug cartels, gangs and the drug trade crossing the border. These programs are similar to federal programs administered by the Department of Justice, and attempt to rehabilitate, not just punish, youth offenders.
Other People Are Reading
-
Major Texas Anti-Gang Grant Programs
-
The Governor's Criminal Justice Division of Texas (CJD) administers multiple state and joint state-federal anti-gang programs. It is also responsible for administering federal funds awarded to Texas. The largest CJD program is the Criminal Justice Planning Fund, which in 2006 had an appropriation of $25,691,837.
Texas promotes a multidisciplinary approach to reducing gang activity under the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). This is a comprehensive gang model that provides funds to local municipalities. As of August, 2010, the OJDDP budget is $5 million. Local government units may file applications to obtain funding grants under this program, which are one-year grants renewed upon successful application.
Additional Anti-Gang Justice Projects
-
In 2010, the governor of Texas recently awarded more than $3 million in grants to programs focusing on gang activity in the border regions of Texas as part of the Texas Border Gang Prevention Coordination Assistance fund. This fund distributed funds to nine different Texas programs. These grants range in value from roughly $100,000 to $1 million, the largest portion being allocated to El Paso county. Each city and county which was awarded grants operates its own program. For example, El Paso's funding was awarded to the Serious Habitual Offenders Comprehensive Action program.
-
Coordination with Federal Grants
-
Texas grants and justice programs often coordinate efforts with federal grants and frequently are modeled after successful federal programs. Texas seeks to emulate federal anti-gang programs, along with supplementing grants provided by federal programs such as the Department of Human Services Area security initiative program. In many situations a grantee will receive state and federal funds for a specific goal, such as anti-gang efforts.
In addition to demanding additional federal action, the Texas governor has created Operation Border Star, a $110 million effort to combat trans-border gangs and promote coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit group of friends image by Dmitri MIkitenko from Fotolia.com
