Governor Bentley Announces Law Enforcement Grant to Reduce Crime in 4th Judicial Circuit

MONTGOMERY (Governor’s Office) – Governor Robert Bentley on Wednesday awarded an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant to the Fourth Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force. The $300,000 grant will assist the Task Force and the Fourth Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office in reducing violent crime.

The grant is providing funds for the District Attorney’s Office to reduce violent crime and create safer communities in Alabama’s Fourth Judicial Circuit. This circuit consists of the following counties: Bibb, Dallas, Hale, Perry and Wilcox. By training law enforcement on the recognition, methods and techniques associated with violent criminal behavior, engaging in community outreach and increasing drug and gun seizures, the District Attorney’s Office expects to facilitate a reduction in violent crime by utilization of these funds.

“We try to help local law enforcement and local district attorney’s offices reach their goals of preventing crime any way we can,” Governor Bentley said. “By providing this Byrne-JAG grant, we are able to help communities in the Fourth Judicial Circuit become safer places to live, work and raise a family. I commend the District Attorney’s Office and the Fourth Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force for addressing these issues head on and being proactive against violent crime.”

Byrne-JAG grants are made available through the U.S. Department of Justice.  The Law Enforcement and Traffic Safety Division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) will administer the grant.

“Safe communities are important to everyone,” ADECA Director Jim Byard, Jr. said. “Through a series of partnerships, ADECA can help communities reduce violent crimes.  I am pleased to support the Fourth Judicial Drug Task Force in helping reduce violence in these west Alabama counties.”

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program provides states, tribes, and local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, technology improvement, and crime victim and witness initiatives.

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