[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a total of $19,036,189 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois.

“Today’s funding is an important investment in the Illinois justice system,” said Durbin.  “These initiatives will promote school safety, provide vital assistance to those who have been the victims of crimes, and enhance community-oriented policing and recidivism reduction efforts.” 

Under this announcement, the following Illinois communities, organizations and entities will receive funding:

Chicagoland

• The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) (Chicago, IL): will receive $4,960,602 in funding through the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program to support services to victims of sexual assault throughout the state. The funding will be allocated by ICJIA to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Abuse and the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence for the enhancement of victim service programs, the development of victim-centered law enforcement, prosecution efforts, and court strategies to address violent crimes against women.
• City of Chicago and the University of Chicago Crime Lab (Chicago, IL): will receive $2,197,178 in funding though the Comprehensive School Safety Initiative Award Program to launch a new school safety program to address gang activity and violence in and around schools. With this funding, Chicago Public Schools will implement the Connect and Redirect to Respect (CRR) program to review social media activity for potential gang activities to identify students most in need of remediation and intervention. CRR aims to disrupt gang activity, curb youth violence, and build positive school cultures.
• The Circuit Court of Cook County (Chicago, IL): will be awarded $400,000 in funding through the Justice for Families Program / Family Court Enhancement Project, which helps determine what family court procedures relating to custody and visitation can help keep victims of domestic violence and their children safe from further violence and trauma.
• The Chicago Police Department (Chicago, IL): will receive $3,000,000 in funding through the FY14 Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program for Crime Victim Program to increase safety in Chicago community districts.
• The Chicago Department of Public Health (Chicago, IL): will receive $2,000,000 in funding through the FY 14 Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program for Crime Victims Program to implement a Crisis Response and Recovery program that aims to help residents living in high-crime areas and improve crisis recovery outcomes for surviving families.
• The Broadview Police Department (Broadview, IL): will receive $250,000 in funding through the 2014 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) Awards to create and/or preserve law enforcement jobs.
• The City of Chicago (Chicago, IL): will receive $3,125,000 in funding through the 2014 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) Awards to create and/or preserve law enforcement jobs.
• The Matteson Police Department (Matteson, IL): will receive $250,000 in funding through the 2014 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) Awards to create and/or preserve law enforcement jobs.
• Sauk Village (Sauk Village, IL): will receive $125,000 in funding through the 2014 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) Awards to create and/or preserve law enforcement jobs.

Central Illinois

• The City of West Peoria (Peoria, Illinois): will receive $125,000 in funding through the 2014 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) Awards to create and/or preserve law enforcement jobs. 
• The Illinois Department of Human Services (Springfield, IL): will receive $1,387,187 in funding through the FY14 Title II Formula Grants Program for juvenile justice system improvements and delinquency prevention.
• The Illinois Department of Corrections (Springfield, IL): will receive $1,000,000 in funding through the FY14 Second Chance Act Statewide Recidivism Reduction Implementation Program to support strategies aimed at reducing recidivism rates throughout the state.

Northern Illinois

• The Winnebago County Circuit Court (Rockford, IL): will receive $91,222 in funding through the Justice for Families Program / Domestic Violence Mentor Court Initiative, which helps identify and share effective court responses to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking cases.
   
• The DeKalb Police Department (DeKalb, IL): will receive $125,000 in funding through the 2014 COPS Hiring Program (CHP) Awards to create and/or preserve law enforcement jobs.