MACON, Ga. – The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has awarded grants totaling $2,265,281 to support local programs addressing a range of community safety and criminal justice issues across the Middle District of Georgia.

“These grants are substantial investments toward both necessary and innovative solutions for a wide-ranging set of criminal justice issues effecting communities across the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “As the new year dawns, our office reaffirms our total commitment to our region’s shared goal of reducing violence and ensuring fair and equal justice in each community we serve.”

The following jurisdictions and agencies applied for and received grants through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for FY 2021, awarded in Dec. 2021:

1. The Beekeeper Reentry Program – An Innovative Approach to Reducing Recidivism$900,000 BJA FY 2021 Second Chance Act Grant awarded to the Family Wellness Outreach Center of Georgia, Inc. in Albany, Georgia, with a goal to reduce recidivism rates by at least 25% for 102 reentering adults at highest risk for reoffending in 14 Southwest Georgia counties. Georgia's recidivism rate among individuals released from prison is around 30%.

1. Implementing Standards, Protecting Inmates– Stronger, Better Locks

$250,000 BJA FY 2021 Implementing the PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) Standards, Protecting Inmates, and Safeguarding Communities Grant awarded to the Muscogee County, Georgia, Sheriff's Office to replace cell locks in the jail to both keep the facility in compliance and greatly enhance the safety and security of both inmates, staff and visitors.

1. Fort Valley Police Community PolicingInitiative – Combat Rising Violent Crime Issues

$150,000 BJA FY 2021 Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative for Law Enforcement Agencies Grant awarded to the City of Fort Valley, Georgia, Police Department to create a stronger relationship between community and police, offer individual officer training and increase focused patrols in high crime areas while partnering with community members and apartment management in those areas.

1. South Georgia Circuit Rural Crime Reduction Initiative Project

$141,687 BJA FY 2021 Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative for Law Enforcement Agencies Grant awarded to the Decatur County, Georgia, Board of Commissioners for purposes focused on reducing violent crime in rural areas served by the South Georgia Judicial Circuit.

The following non-profit organization applied for and received a grant through OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) for FY 2021, awarded in Oct. 2021:

1. Mentoring for Youth Affected by the Opioid Crisis and Drug Addiction

$622,903 Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) FY 2021 Grant awarded to Beginning New Outreach, Inc. in Columbus, Georgia to provide ongoing mentoring for youth who are currently abusing or addicted to drugs, youth at risk for abusing and youth with family members who are currently abusing or addicted to drugs.

The following jurisdictions applied for and received OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) for FY 2021, awarded in Oct. 2021:

1. Funding Assistance for Local Law Enforcement, Columbus Consolidated Government

$104,731 BJA FY 2021 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) to support criminal justice initiatives to includelaw enforcement, drug and gang task forces, enhancing public and officer safety, courts, corrections, education, treatment, technology improvement, crime victim support, mental health and other programs aimed at reducing crime and improving safety.

1. Less than Lethal Program, City of Americus, Georgia

$12,155 BJA FY 21 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) to support criminal justice initiatives to includelaw enforcement, drug and gang task forces, enhancing public and officer safety, courts, corrections, education, treatment, technology improvement, crime victim support, mental health and other programs aimed at reducing crime and improving safety.

1. Law Enforcement Operational Enhancement Project, City of Albany

$83,805 BJA FY 21 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) to support criminal justice initiatives to includelaw enforcement, drug and gang task forces, enhancing public and officer safety, courts, corrections, education, treatment, technology improvement, crime victim support, mental health and other programs aimed at reducing crime and improving safety.

Once the awards are made, information about the grantees selected under each solicitation can be found online at the OJP Grant Awards Page.

OJP provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

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