GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced Sept. 30 that, as part of a national rollout, the Department of Justice awarded $5,174,318 in grants to improve public safety, serve victims of crime and support youth programs in tribal communities in the Western District of Michigan.
“The Department of Justice has a special responsibility when it comes to helping federally recognized Tribes keep their communities safe,” explained U.S. Attorney Birge. “These resources underscore that commitment.”
A total of more than $103 million is being awarded to tribes across the country under the Justice Department’s Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation. CTAS supports activities that enhance law enforcement and tribal justice practices, expand victim services and sustain crime prevention and intervention efforts. CTAS grants are administered by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs ($41.5 million), Office on Violence Against Women ($39.1 million) and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services ($22.5 million).
An additional $113 million is being awarded to 133 applicants nationwide under the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program. This program, managed by OJP’s Office for Victims of Crime, is designed to help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims of crime and promote other public safety initiatives.
“Public safety officials and victim service providers in Indian country face exceptional challenges, but they bring to their work an extraordinary array of skills and resources that enable them to meet and overcome any obstacle,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Office of Justice Programs is proud to help fulfill Attorney General Barr's strong commitment – and the federal government's long-standing responsibility – to our tribal partners in the matter of their citizens' safety and wellbeing.”
In addition to the CTAS and Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside awards, the Office on Violence Against Women is making additional tribal awards of more than $31 million to support a wide range of efforts to address the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking.
Additional awards to support tribal public safety efforts are being made by OJP and the COPS Office. These grants will provide community policing training and other training and technical assistance. Awards will also address the needs of tribal youth, fund tribal reentry efforts, help tribes combat substance abuse and manage sex offenders, and support tribal research. In addition, funds support efforts in 17 tribal communities to address the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19.
“Ensuring our nation’s tribal communities have the resources they need is paramount for the COPS Office and the Department of Justice,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. “These awards are a critical component to the overall public safety strategy for tribal law enforcement and the COPS Office is honored to provide vital resources to hire more sworn officer positions, advance tribal training and procure equipment needed to keep communities safe.”
The following tribes received funding:
• Bay Mills Indian Community $461,941 - Public Safety and Community Policing (COPS)
• Keweenaw Bay Indian Community $900,000 - Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program (OVW)
• Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians $251,841 - Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program (OVW)
• Little River Band of Ottawa Indians $299,815 - Tribal Youth Program (OJJDP)
• Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians $416,033 - Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program (OVW)
• Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi $658,507 - Public Safety and Community Policing (COPS)
- Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians $836,284 - Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program (OVW)
• The Grand Traverse Band of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians $1,349,987 - Justice Systems and Alcohol and Substance Abuse (BJA) - $899,897; and Children’s Justice Act Partnership for Indian Communities (OVC) - $450,000
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