Engler Announces $19 Million in Drug Prevention and Policing Initiatives Grants--Northern Michigan to Receive $2,604,973

Governor John Engler has awarded over $19 million in funds for drug prevention and policing initiatives. Northern Michigan will receive $2,604,973 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 Northern Michigan," 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 46th Circuit Trial Court will receive $185,950 for Juvenile Intervention Strategies to fund the Time Out Project, which provides intensive services for adjudicated juveniles in Otsego, Kalkaska and Crawford Counties. This project will provide services with an educational context to prevent future crimes.

** Traverse City will receive $26,940 for Juvenile Intervention Strategies to fund a collaborative project involving the prosecuting attorney, courts, law enforcement, schools, parents and the Family Independence Agency to reduce youth involvement in substance use and delinquent or criminal behavior.

** Cadillac will receive $26,448 for School Resource Strategies to fund a full-time officer to assist the Cadillac Area Public Schools with substance abuse, truancy and other juvenile problems.

** Manistee will receive $24,419 for School Resource Strategies to fund the School Liaison Community Policing Program in the Manistee Area Public Schools.

** Grand Traverse County will receive $33,108 for Drug Testing and Treatment for Juveniles and Adults to increase the frequency of drug testing while administering specific graduated sanctions for juveniles who have failed tests, failed to show up for their tests or have been non-compliant in other program areas.

** The 26th Judicial Circuit Court/Alpena County will receive $127,418 for Drug Testing and Treatment for Juveniles and Adults to fund the Turning Point Program, a needs-focused, holistic day-treatment program designed as a final "community-based" effort to rehabilitate court wards in lieu of out-of-home placement.

** The Leelanau County Family Court will receive $27,974 for Drug Testing and Treatment for Juveniles and Adults to fund a project that incorporates an increased frequency of drug testing with specific graduated sanctions for juveniles who fail tests, fail to show up for tests, or are non-compliant in other program areas.

** Grand Traverse County will receive $26,279 for Drug Testing and Treatment for Juveniles and Adults to fund a project that is an alternative to prison for substance abusing offenders. Offenders are referred to transition houses where work, substance abuse treatment, and random drug screens are cornerstones of the program.

** The 46th Circuit Trial Court/County of Crawford will receive $36,618 for Drug Testing and Treatment for Juveniles and Adults to fund the CLEAN (Community, Liaison, Enforcement and Assistance Network) Program, which is designed to address alcohol and drug rehabilitation for juveniles, families and non-felony criminal offenders.

** Emmet County will receive $63,331 for Drug Testing and Treatment for Juveniles and Adults to fund a program to deal effectively with the increase of substance abuse problems by juveniles in the probate and family court system.

** Charlevoix County will receive $68,934 for Drug Testing and Treatment for Juveniles and Adults to fund the Recovery High intensive outpatient substance abuse program.

** The Traverse Narcotics Team, a Multijurisdictional Task Force that operates in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Missaukee and Wexford counties will receive $258,558. The team concentrates on undercover operations, surveillance and interdiction with emphasis on pro-active investigations targeting manufacturers, upper-level dealers and the assets derived from illegal trafficking of controlled substances.

** The Strike Team Investigative Narcotics Group, a Multijurisdictional Task Force that operates in Arenac, Crawford, Iosco, Ogemaw, Oscoda and Roscommon counties will receive $227,000 to conduct narcotics and related investigations focused on mid to upper-level narcotics traffickers.

** The Huron Undercover Narcotics Team, a Multijurisdictional Task Force that operates in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Presque Isle counties will receive $137,961. The team conducts narcotics and related investigations with a focus on mid to upper-level narcotics traffickers, along with investigating street level traffickers.

** The Strait Area Narcotics Enforcement, a Multijurisdictional Task Force operating in Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Emmet, Mackinac and Otsego counties will receive $254,066. They will continue to vigorously prosecute individuals to deter and eliminate the availability of drugs and criminal activity associated with narcotics trafficking.

** The Sheriffs, State, Chiefs, Enforcement of Narcotics Team, a Multijurisdictional Task Force that operates in Mason, Manistee, Oceana and Lake counties will receive $216,231 to integrate state, county and local law enforcement resources to remove mid and upper-level narcotics dealers to eliminate drug availability, usage and violence.

Local Law Enforcement Block Grants
** Alpena County will receive $136,707 for School Resource Strategies to fund police/school liaison officers at Alpena High, Thunder Bay Junior High and 10 elementary schools. A "school success" worker will be placed at the junior high to bridge the gap between home and school and help troubled kids.

** Antrim County will receive $55,922 for School Resource Strategies to fund a school liaison officer who will provide mediation services between youth, families, schools, law enforcement and the family court.

** Arenac County will receive $73,077 for School Resource Strategies to fund two officers who will identify "at risk" students and provide lessons and prevention techniques to students and families.

** Cheboygan County will receive $61,189 for School Resource Strategies to fund an officer who will be utilized by three school districts in Cheboygan County to attack problems such as school truancy, tardiness, incorrigibility and smoking.

** Kalkaska County will receive $71,272 for School Resource Strategies to fund a School Resource Officer to reduce crime and delinquency in and around assigned schools.

** Mason County will receive $45,367 for School Resource Strategies to fund a School Resource Officer to assist schools with juvenile delinquency and truancy problems.

** Montmorency County will receive $35,865 for School Resource Strategies to fund a Youth Officer who receives referrals and follows up with appropriate contacts to enforce state compulsory attendance laws and local attendance policies.

** Oscoda County will receive $32,308 for School Resource Strategies to fund a school liaison officer to work with students to promote a positive response to law enforcement officers, continue to teach the D.A.R.E. curriculum, and consult with teachers, administration and parents regarding potential problems and intervention strategies.

** Presque Isle County will receive $76,537 for School Resource Strategies to fund a police officer in the Onaway and Rogers City School Districts and communities working to attack problems such as school truancy, tardiness, smoking violations, vandalism, assaults, loitering and other violations.

** Roscommon County will receive $78,549 for School Resource Strategies to fund to two officers to develop new programs and continue current programs to reduce truancies, juvenile violence and gang involvement.

** Wexford County will receive $38,373 for School Resource Strategies to fund a school liaison officer to investigate criminal activity and enforce traffic laws in and around three school districts.

** The 46th Circuit Trial Court will receive $32,700 for Computer Technology Strategies to connect the state and city police and a prosecutor to a network used to reduce crime.

** Mason County will receive $52,687 for Computer Technology Strategies to provide data transfer between the Mason County Jail, 79th District Court, 51st Circuit Court and the Mason County Prosecutor's Office.

** Ogemaw County will receive $73,185 for Computer Technology Strategies to coordinate activities of Ogemaw County's computer program to all county departments.

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.