WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) have announced $550,415 in federal funding to boost safety and legal support programs on the Eastern Shore. The funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Justice, includes:
- $14,233 for Cecil County through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.
- $11,835 for the City of Cambridge through the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program.
- $24,347 for the City of Salisbury through the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program.
- $500,000 for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative.
“The safety of our communities is a top priority, and these funds will provide training and equipment for local criminal justice efforts and youth programs. Working together, we’ll keep fighting to bring these resources to our state to build safer communities,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committees.
“The federal government is an essential partner with local governments in their work to ensure public safety. These grants will support at-risk youth, mitigate the opioid epidemic, and give jurisdictions on the Eastern Shore the flexibility to make their top-priority criminal justice investments,” said Senator Cardin. “I will continue to work to ensure the safety of communities across Maryland.”
The Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program allows states and units of local government, including tribes, to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice.
The OJJDP Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative works to support mentoring programs to reduce juvenile delinquency, drug abuse (especially opioid abuse), victimization, and problem and high-risk behaviors such as truancy.
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