April 22, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. ---- FALEOMAVAEGA ANNOUNCES $103,074 GRANT TOWARDS CONSTRUCTION OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN TAFUNA

      Congressman Eni Faleomavaega announced today that he has received a notification of grant award from the Office of Justice Programs of the U.S. Department of Justice for an award under the Violent Offender Incarceration Truth in Sentencing (VOI/TIS) program. "This program is the Justice Department's primary program for prison construction and expansion," explained the Congressman.

      This award begins the fourth year of funding in the VOI/TIS grant program. The $103,074 awarded to the American Samoa Government's Department of Public Safety will be combined with additional funding from the Department of the Interior to support construction of a 33-bed facility.

      Funding under the VOI/TIS grant program may be used to expand correctional facilities to house additional violent offenders. The Congressman explained, "Including this award, American Samoa has received a total of $431,990 in VOI/TIS funding." Honorable Eni F.H. Faleomavaega Correctional Facility Construction Grant April 22, 1999

      The Congressman acknowledged the efforts of Project Director Tasi Mauga, Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, and his staff in securing this funding. "Deputy Commissioner Mauga and his staff should be commended for submitting a successful application," said Faleomavaega. "These funds are critical to ensuring that the Department of Public Safety has the capacity to make sure that violent offenders serve a substantial portion of the sentences that the courts impose."

      DPS is funding the construction of the first Juvenile Detention Facility in American Samoa, which will have a 32-bed capacity, and is also constructing a two-cell jail in a remote district. The Congressman said he has been told that all three facilities are expected to become operational in 1999.