Fattah Announces $2.5 Million in Crime Prevention Funding to Philadelphia

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (PA-02), the lead Democrat on the House Subcommittee responsible for Department of Justice (DOJ) funding, has announced that the agency has awarded $1,834,486 in Byrne JAG funding to support anti-crime initiatives in the City of Philadelphia. Philadelphia was also awarded $746,298 in Second Chance Act funding from the Justice Department.

"As a result of these grants, our police department will be more equipped with the tools, resources, and training to best serve our local law enforcement needs, and our community will be a safer, more secure place to live, work, and go to school," Congressman Fattah said. "These two programs have both proven immensely successful here at home, and I am pleased the Department of Justice has continued to fund these local efforts aimed at decreasing crime in the community and reducing recidivism rates through successful reentry programs for individuals released from prison."

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne JAG) allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities that prevent and control crime based on the specific and individual needs of the community. Philadelphia will use the funds for police department initiatives including instruction, equipment, and technology enhancements both in the police force and for local prosecutors and courts.

The Second Chance Act funds will help support Philadelphia's Second Chance program. The grant will go towards supporting a comprehensive reentry process for 105 men, ages 18-40 who have been released from jail, prison, and juvenile residential facilities and are returning to the community. A recent report by the The Council of State Governments Justice Center has shown that due to Second Chance Act implementation strategies and targeted reentry programs, Pennsylvania has seen a 7.1% decrease in their recidivism rate. 

Congressman Fattah also announced that Pennsylvania will receive $2,875,000 in COPS funding to support the hiring and rehiring of law enforcement officers in communities around the state. In FY14, Fattah helped secure $180 million for the COPS Hiring Program.

Through his role as Ranking Member on the Appropriations Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS), Congressman Fattah has lead the charge to increase funding to Second Chance Act, Byrne JAG, and the COPS Hiring Program (CHP), and been a powerful advocate for these and other DOJ programs.

Additional information on the DOJ funding awards can be found at http://www.justice.gov/business.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah