Public safety services and programs across Texas will be able to benefit from over $355 million in taxpayer-funded grants authorized by Governor Greg Abbott. These programs or services can include providing law enforcement support, victim services, and anti-human trafficking efforts, according to a press release from the governor.
These grants consist of state and federal funds and will be administered by Abbott’s Public Safety Office (PSO).
Abbott shared in the press release that these funds are intended to make Texas a safer state.
“Texas continues working to improve and enhance the safety of our communities through comprehensive programs and services that help keep Texans safe,” he said. “This crucial grant funding will further bolster organizations and agencies as they work around the clock to ensure justice for victims of crime, protect against threats, prevent human trafficking, and support statewide emergency infrastructure, among other critical public safety initiatives.”
Services and programs that PSO grants will fund include Crime Stoppers Assistance, Homeland Security, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces, and nonprofit security enhancement, among others.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program will be allocated three grants that total $1 million, the press release shared.
The funding will work to develop “an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and Internet crimes against children that encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, and community education.”
There will be 36 Crime Stoppers Assistance grants allocated to certified Crime Stoppers organizations across the state. These grants will total $375,000 in funding, according to the press release.
A total of 350 grants amounting to $60 million will be devoted to improvements in homeland security.
Other services and programs that will be funded through recent grants include statewide emergency radio infrastructure, sexual assault evidence testing, SAFE Ready facilities, juvenile justice and truancy prevention, district attorney forensic evidence testing and bullet resistant vests, the press release shared.
A total of 69 grants equaling $4.6 million will be used to give rifle-resistant body armor to peace officers in the state. There will be 100 grants used toward juvenile justice and truancy prevention, totaling over $8 million.
“Eight awards totaling $1.6 million,” come from the United States Department of Justice’s Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grants Program “for projects that improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiners services, as well as projects seeking to address emerging forensic science,” the press release stated. “Specific funding has been reserved for projects that support responses to the opioid epidemic.”
Sexual assault evidence testing will be supported by two grants that total $804,000. The funding will reimburse local law enforcement for the costs of analyzing physical evidence.
Statewide emergency radio infrastructure will be supported with $12.1 million across 20 grants, according to the press release. Funds will improve emergency radio communications in Texas.
Just over $3 million will go toward “residential substance abuse treatment within local correctional and detention facilities,” the press release shared.
PSO grants will also support specialty courts, Project Safe Neighborhoods, and more.
