City of Jamestown is awarded $20,694

(WNY News Now) – The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, Trini E. Ross, announced the allocation of $16.4 million in grant funding from the Justice Department to 26 municipalities, school districts, and human service organizations. These grants will address various critical issues, including gun violence, domestic violence, and youth mental health, among others.

BUFFALO, NY – The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, Trini E. Ross, revealed today that the Justice Department has awarded grant funding totaling $16,440,491 to 26 municipalities, school districts, and human service organizations. These funds are designated to support a wide range of criminal justice initiatives aimed at addressing pressing issues across the region.

U.S. Attorney Ross emphasized the significance of this funding, which will aid various entities in their efforts to combat gun violence, domestic violence, sexual assaults, and enhance support for victims. Of particular note, a substantial portion of the grant, over $7 million, will be directed towards assisting victims of crimes, including the victims of the Tops mass shooting tragedy, which claimed the lives of ten community members.

Here is a breakdown of the grants awarded across different focus areas:

Victims Services:

• The Community Health Center of Buffalo receives $3,889,303 to provide services to those affected by the mass shooting in Buffalo on May 14, 2022.
• Monroe County has been awarded $800,000 to improve the county’s response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
• The YMCA of Jamestown will receive $600,000 to support the Justice for Families Program.
• The Family Justice Center of Erie County, Inc. has been granted $450,000 to improve responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
• Coordinated Care Services, Inc. of Rochester is awarded $400,000 to support Rise Up Rochester and ensure safe housing for victims of gun violence.
• Niagara University is granted $400,000 to collaborate with various organizations to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus.
• The Research Foundation for the State University of New York at Geneseo receives $400,000 to work with other groups to combat domestic violence and related issues on campus.
• D’Youville College is granted $399,728 to collaborate with other entities in combating domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus.

Services for Youth:

• The Sodus Central School District receives $1,000,000 to support migrant farmworkers and their families in Wayne County.
• The Lyons Central School District is awarded $998,874 for its Resiliency, Equity, and Safety Initiative.
• The Wayne-Finger Lakes Board of Cooperative Educational Services receives $999,987 to support at-risk students and educators across multiple districts.
• The North Rose-Wolcott Central School District is granted $998,826 for the Improving School Safety through Early Intervention Initiative.
• The Elba Central School District is awarded $625,000 to expand mental and behavioral health services.
• The Frontier Central School District receives $125,774 for anti-violence training programs.

Law Enforcement Initiatives:

• Monroe County and Erie County are granted $526,741 and $819,884, respectively, to address DNA analysis case backlogs in their respective crime laboratories.
• Niagara County receives $500,000 to address case backlogs in the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Laboratory.
• Wayne County is awarded $299,907 to hire a community resource officer.
• The City of Buffalo is granted $284,913 to support additional police patrols at large-scale events.
• The City of Rochester receives $175,205 to support the Crisis Intervention Services unit.
• The Rochester Institute of Technology is awarded $143,958 to reduce gun violence in Buffalo through the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program.
• The University of Rochester receives $64,003 for research on AI-powered audio generation and deepfake detection.
• The City of Niagara Falls is granted $38,562 to support police-community liaisons.
• The City of Jamestown is awarded $20,694 for an additional deployable pole camera system.

Reentry and Recidivism Initiatives:

• PathStone of Rochester receives $750,000 to develop a community-based adult reentry program.
• The Ontario County Economic Development Corporation is awarded $729,132 to support the Finger Lakes Treatment Court, serving veterans and drug court participants.

These grants aim to bolster the collective efforts of local agencies, school districts, and organizations in addressing crucial aspects of criminal justice, ultimately enhancing safety and support for Western New York communities.