Attorney General Announces $4.3M in Grants to Fight Crime
Attorney General Anne Milgram held an announced yesterday at the William C McGinnis School in Perth Amboy, that $2.8 million dollars in grant awards will be awarded to 13 counties in New Jersey over the next two years. The grant amounts vary in range from $55,000 to $140,000 and will go to non-profit agencies like the Boys & Girls club and several law enforcement agencies.
“We can’t arrest our way out of the problem of violent street gangs and gun violence,” Milgram stated. “That is why proven and evidence-based prevention programs aimed at keeping kids in school and in safe places … are so important. We must make kids who are at risk more resilient to the pressure of gangs.” She noted a shocking 19,000 students dropped out of school in 2007.
Money was also awarded to individual municipalities, including Camden County, Vineland, Trenton, Pleasantville, Salem, West New York, Newark, Asbury Park, among others. The grantees were selected based on previous evidence of success, and the process was administered by the Division of Criminal Justice, with funds reaching 3,500 at-risk youths.
PSE&G’s $1.5 million will be used for after school programs, including New Jersey After 3, Inc., a private non-profit organization dedicated to expanding after school opportunities for New Jersey students. More than 100 schools statewide partner with the organization.
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