(WNY News Now) – New York Governor Kathy Hochul has initiated the application process for a $50 million funding program aimed at bolstering law enforcement agencies located outside of New York City. The funds are intended to enable these agencies to acquire cutting-edge technology and equipment, enhancing their crime-solving and prevention capabilities. This announcement coincides with the State Division of Criminal Justice Services hosting its largest-ever Public Safety Symposium, attended by over 1,100 local, state, and federal law enforcement professionals, criminal justice leaders, community members, researchers, and academics.
Albany – Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled a significant funding opportunity for law enforcement agencies throughout New York State. The $50 million program is designed to empower police departments and sheriffs’ offices in non-metropolitan areas, enabling them to modernize their operations and more effectively combat crime through the acquisition of advanced technology and equipment. This announcement aligns with the State Division of Criminal Justice Services hosting the largest-ever Public Safety Symposium, a three-day event in Albany attended by a diverse range of stakeholders.
“I am proud to support best practices and smart solutions that will help our law enforcement partners improve public safety in communities across New Yorkers State, and that is why I am ensuring that our police agencies have the new technology and equipment they need,” Governor Hochul stated. “I am also pleased to welcome more than 1,100 of the brightest minds and criminal justice professionals from across the country to our largest-ever Public Safety Symposium, where they will share their expertise to enhance public safety and improve the lives of all New Yorkers.”
The Public Safety Symposium, which features 71 presentations, focuses on best practices, evidence-based programs, and data-driven initiatives aimed at enhancing public safety, advancing the police profession, and fostering community trust. Attendees and presenters represent nearly 400 different agencies and organizations from across the state and country, covering topics such as police recruitment, procedural justice, officer well-being, and more.
The $50 million funding will be administered by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), which has set a submission deadline of noon on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. The funding allocation process follows extensive feedback from police departments and sheriffs’ offices, whose requests exceeded the initial commitment of $20 million, prompting Governor Hochul to secure the additional $30 million in the FY24 Budget.
Agencies can utilize this funding for a wide array of equipment and technology enhancements, including license plate readers, surveillance cameras, dispatch systems, software, unmanned aerial vehicles, gunshot detection devices, and smart patrol vehicle equipment.
The FY24 Budget includes other notable allocations for public safety, including:
$36 million for law enforcement agencies participating in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative.
$52.5 million in aid to prosecution funding for all 62 district attorneys’ offices and $80 million to support discovery reform implementation statewide
$25 million for the SNUG Street Outreach program, benefiting multiple cities.
$20 million for pretrial services and $31.4 million for Alternatives to Incarceration programs.
$16 million for the state’s Crime Analysis Center Network, administered in partnership with local law enforcement agencies.
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