OJJDP AWARDS MORE THAN $104 MILLION TO PROTECT YOUTH, FIND MISSING CHILDREN, AND PROSECUTE CHILD EXPLOITATION

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OJJDP AWARDS MORE THAN $104 MILLION TO PROTECT YOUTH, FIND MISSING CHILDREN, AND PROSECUTE CHILD EXPLOITATION

          WASHINGTON – The Office of Justice Programs today announced awards of more than $104.2 million in grant funding to enhance state, local and tribal jurisdictions’ capabilities to protect children and respond to juvenile victimization.

          OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention awarded grants to more than 90 sites, jurisdictions and task forces throughout the United States. The funds will help communities find missing children, support law enforcement investigations and increase overall public safety through aggressive prosecution of those who seek to abuse or exploit children.

          “These awards provide crucial resources to find missing children, combat child abuse and exploitation, and provide much-needed services to victims and their families,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Matt M. Dummermuth. “We are excited these funds will be used for programs with well-established track records of successfully helping children who have been victimized, supporting law enforcement, and enhancing prosecutors’ ability to convict those who harm children.”

         “Protecting youth and increasing public safety are central to OJJDP’s work and these grant awards,” said OJJDP Administrator Caren Harp. “The safety of our communities depends on having investigators and prosecutors who are equipped to stop criminals who would do harm to our children.”

          Of the $104.2 million awarded, more than $42 million will support missing and exploited children programs and services; $29.35 million will help combat and prevent Internet crimes against children; more than $20.5 million will fund services for victims of child abuse; and $10.62 million will serve children who are victims of neglect or abuse, including those in dependency or child welfare systems. Another $1.75 million will fund child abuse training for judicial and court personnel.

          For a complete list of individual grant programs, amounts to be awarded, and the jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit https://go.usa.gov/xP5qk.

          Additional information about Fiscal Year 2018 grant awards made by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention can be found online at https://go.usa.gov/xnqk5.