August 09, 2011
Durbin Announces Nearly $2.3 Million in DOJ Funding to Protect Illinois Youth
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a total of $2,299,205 to government agencies in Illinois for programs focused on protecting juveniles and promoting child Internet safety.
“Today’s funding will help combat juvenile delinquency in Illinois and strengthen and improve safeguards for our children against Internet predators,” said Durbin.
The following Illinois government offices and programs will receive funding:
- Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority: $1,293,577 in funding through the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program to reduce juvenile offending through accountability-based programs focused on both the juvenile offender and the juvenile justice system.
- Office of the Illinois Attorney General: $386,485 in funding for the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The ICAC Task Force is charged with investigating and prosecuting Internet crimes against children and providing preventative assistance to parents, educators, prosecutors, law enforcement and others. The funding will provide for a full-time ICAC statewide coordinator, a computer forensic examiner, and equipment for the Task Force.
- Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office: $319,143 in funding for the Cook County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The ICAC Task Force is charged with investigating and prosecuting Internet crimes against children and providing preventative assistance to parents, educators, prosecutors, law enforcement and others. The funding will provide for an Assistant State’s Attorney, an outreach coordinator and a forensic examiner dedicated to the Task Force.
- Illinois Department of Human Services: $300,000 in funding under the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Program to provide evidence-based enforcement strategies to institutions of higher education and law enforcement agencies.