Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie announced today that $6.4 in Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funds under the American Recovery Act are targeted to Hawaii public safety. The State Attorney General will receive the funds to beef up efforts against sex crimes, gang violence, property crimes, cyber crimes; and for court services and specialized courts, such as drug and mental health courts; for offender treatment services; mental health treatment and case management; youth services; reentry programs and services; substance abuse treatment; drug enforcement; and criminal justice information systems and technological needs.

“These funds represent the best of what President Obama’s Economic Recovery Act can do for Hawaii,” said Abercrombie.“This vital funding will help fight crime and build safer communities.”

The procedure for allocating JAG grants uses a formula based on population and violent crime statistics.  The JAG Program is the primary conduit for federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions and is managed by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.

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