More than $6 million is being directed to the Southern District of Georgia to support law enforcement and public safety efforts. U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg announced that the federal grants come from the Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance through Community Project Funding and Congressionally Directed Spending Provisions, according to the U.S. Attorney's office release.
"Whether assisting local agencies in providing mental health or legal services or in purchasing essential equipment for first responders, these grants will help local communities across the Southern District to protect their citizens and improve outcomes for the vulnerable," Steinberg said in a recent statement. Among the recipients, Augusta-Richmond County Government is set to receive a considerable sum totaling $1,007,000. Part of the award, valued at $690,000, is allocated to upgrade the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office's body-worn camera technology. A further $317,000 is dedicated to the creation of a Mental Health Response Team, designed to serve those facing active mental health crises or in need of follow-up care, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Glynn County stands to benefit from a substantial $3.7 million grant. This infusion of funding is slated for the overhaul of radio communications systems, a vital asset for a range of agencies, including the Glynn County Police Department, Glynn County Sheriff’s Office, GB911, Brunswick Police Department, and Glynn County Emergency Management Agency. These improvements will enhance coordination and response across the county's mainland and barrier island communities.
Further afield, the Community Service Board of Middle Georgia in Dublin, Ga., has been awarded $1.356 million. This grant will propel the Behavioral Health and Overdose Reduction Initiative, offering critical support to 16 underserved and largely rural counties in the state. The Georgia Justice Project in Atlanta is also receiving $475,000 to establish a Second Chance Desk—a resource projected to aid 120-150 individuals in Richmond and Burke counties in navigating Georgia’s expungement laws to clear no longer relevant criminal records.
For more details, information can be sought from the respective recipient agencies or the U.S. Department of Justice's grant information page.
