The Essex County District Attorney’s office and Massachusetts State Police are among statewide recipients of grants from the state’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program aimed at fighting gun crimes, gang violence and street drugs.
District Attorney Paul F. Tucker’s office was awarded $100,000, while Massachusetts State Police received $170,000 for initiatives in Lawrence and Brockton as part of $1.9 million statewide for violence prevention and community-based partnerships.
“This new grant program fosters the partnerships and supports the collaborative solutions that make a meaningful difference in our communities,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “By investing in these efforts, we’re empowering community partners to deliver vital services to at-risk youth while promoting safe, thriving communities across Massachusetts.”
District attorneys will dedicate at least 25% of the money to prevention, intervention, and/or diversion programming. Massachusetts State Police will use grant funds to expand programming through the department’s statewide Together Everyone Achieves More, or TEAM, community outreach program. This program offers youth sports activities and other programming designed to reduce youth involvement in gang activity.