Engler Announces $19 Million in Drug Prevention and Policing Initiatives Grants--Greater Tri-Cities of Michigan to Receive $1,922,333

Governor John Engler has awarded over $19 million in funds for drug prevention and policing initiatives. The Greater Tri-Cities will receive $1,922,333 in Byrne Memorial Formula and Local Law Enforcement Block grants for a one-year period beginning October 1, 2001.

"Statewide, these grants will play a positive role in the lives of children to prevent drug use and violence," said Engler. "They will also support crucial criminal justice programs to aggressively identify and prosecute drug dealers who destroy lives, families, and the quality of life within neighborhoods."

The grants focus on Community Policing, Juvenile Intervention, School Resource and Family and Domestic Violence Strategies, D.A.R.E. Programs, Drug Testing and Treatment for Juveniles and Adults, Multijurisdictional Task Forces, Money Laundering Task Forces, Prosecution, Criminal Justice Records Improvement and Computer Technology Strategies.

"These outstanding programs are making a difference in the lives of people in the Greater Tri-Cities area," said Craig Yaldoo, Director of the Office of Drug Control Policy. "We are proud to support these communities in their efforts."

Byrne Memorial Formula Grants:
** The 67th District Court/County of Genesee will receive $79,253 for Family and Domestic Violence Strategies to fund a continuation project targeting domestic violence offenders and their victims.

** Grand Blanc Township will receive $41,838 for Family and Domestic Violence Strategies to fund a full-time detective to investigate domestic violence crimes.

** Sanilac County will receive $34,517 for Family and Domestic Violence Strategies to fund a victim services coordinator to provide a coordinated link between the countywide initiative and small towns to reduce family and domestic violence.

** Flint will receive $196,276 for Michigan Juvenile Intervention Initiative to fund the Flint Police Juvenile Intervention Program, to continue working with juveniles between the ages of 10 and 13 who have committed their first or second non-violent serious offense.

** Saginaw County will receive $48,195 for Gang Task Force Strategies to fund the Saginaw Gang Task Force to reduce and eliminate enterprising gang activity.

** Saginaw will receive $173,325 for Michigan Juvenile Intervention Initiative to fund a project that will identify and implement intervention efforts targeted at education, mental health and social factors to reduce the chance of a repeat offense for juvenile offenders.

** Saginaw County will receive $37,539 for School Resource Strategies to fund an officer in the Chesaning Union Schools to provide early intervention services at the elementary, middle and senior high school levels.

** Burton will receive $57,618 for School Resource Strategies to fund a school resource officer for grades K-5.

** Clare will receive $4,113 to fund a D.A.R.E. program to junior high students at Clare Middle School.

** Flint will receive $42,602 to fund a D.A.R.E. program to six middle schools in Flint.

** The 7th Circuit Court/County of Genesee will receive $105,000 for Drug Testing and Treatment for Juveniles and Adults to fund case management and monitoring services for felony defendants, as ordered by the court.

** The 67th District Court/County of Genesee will receive $82,681 for Drug Testing and Treatment for Juveniles and Adults to fund an intensive supervision and testing program for drug offenders.

** Huron County Community Corrections will receive $2,963 for Drug Testing and Treatment for Juveniles and Adults to fund a Probation Compliance Officer Program to assist the courts and probation officers.

** Midland County will receive $31,884 for Drug Testing and Treatment for Juveniles and Adults to fund the treatment of substance abusing offenders to improve the continuum of treatment and decrease the duplication of services.

** The Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, a Multijurisdictional Task Force that operates in the counties of Saginaw, Bay, Gladwin, Clare, Midland, and Isabella will receive $271,691. The team will continue efforts in narcotic investigations specializing in surveillance, undercover assignments, informant management, gathering of intelligence and seizures stemming from asset forfeiture.

** The Flint Area Narcotics Group, a Multijurisdictional Task Force, will receive $458,491 to focus on specialized investigative methods to pursue and apprehend controlled-substance violators responsible for the distribution of drugs in the area.

** The Thumb Narcotics Unit, a Multijurisdictional Task Force that operates in Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, and Tuscola Counties will receive $86,427. The team will target all levels of drug traffickers beginning with low level and intermediate dealers in an effort to identify and prosecute high-level traffickers of marijuana and other illegal drugs.

Local Law Enforcement Block Grants:
** Lapeer County will receive $114,670 for School Resource Strategies to fund two Truancy/Delinquency Coordinators to reduce truancy and other delinquent behaviors.

** Clare County will receive $53,250 for Computer Technology Strategies to fund digitized fingerprint equipment that will be installed and configured to transmit data to the Michigan State Police.

Byrne Memorial Formula and Local Law Enforcement Block grants are available for competitive grant awards to state and local governmental entities. The Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy in the Michigan Department of Community Health administers the grants.