MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded $4 million to reduce violent crime and keep Alabama communities safe.
The 11 grants are part of the State Crisis Intervention Program, a national initiative aimed at reducing gun violence, preventing firearms from falling into dangerous hands, and saving lives while preventing injuries.
“Alabamians deserve to live in neighborhoods and communities where they feel safe in their homes, in their schools and in public places,” Gov. Ivey said. “This program will provide law enforcement agencies and others with the needed resources to take dangerous people off the streets and extend help to those who pose a danger to themselves and others.”
The program, initiated by Congress, is designed to keep firearms out of the hands of people who pose a risk to themselves or others. Part of the program is aimed at finding and treating people with mental health issues including veterans, those contemplating suicide and people battling substance abuse problems.
The funds were made available to the state through a program from the U.S. Department of Justice. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the awards.
“There are no winners where gun violence is concerned, and the results end in tragedy for both perpetrator and victims,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins with Gov. Ivey in encouraging success for these innovative programs to stop criminal violence.”
Those awarded funds are:
Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences – $930,803 to implement a task force of several divisions within the department to prioritize gun violence cases.
Ashland– $109,904 to develop a crisis intervention team while expanding the existing mental health liaison program in Ashland and Clay County.
Cherokee County – $200,000 to enable the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office to implement a crisis intervention team to reduce and prevent firearm related violence. Funding will enable training for deputies and other law enforcement officers in the county.
Childersburg – $23,540 to implement a multi-prong strategy to reduce gun violence by offering a specialized training in crisis response and intervention for officers. The department also plans to offer firearm safety classes for the community, a mentoring program and an education program in local schools.
Chilton County Commission – $246,487 to implement a virtual-reality training program designed to expose deputies to multiple scenarios involving gun violence. The training will also be available to police departments within the county including Clanton, Jemison, Maplesville and Thorsby.
Jacksonville – $115,651 to install gun detection technology at all school campuses within the Jacksonville City School System.
Lanett – $69,500 to conduct training programs geared to settling potentially violent situations without the use of force. The training will involve multiple scenarios including routine traffic, domestic violence situations, mental health crises and active shooter situations.
Montgomery County Commission – $1 million for a program in which the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office will collaborate with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, the Montgomery Police Department and the Montgomery Mental Health Authority (Carastar Health) to increase quicker response times to emergencies and identify patterns of gun violence. The program would also ensure armed people with mental health issues would receive necessary care and support.
Oxford – $9,890 to purchase cameras that will be in installed in hot spot violent crime areas to deter criminal activity. The program will involve other jurisdictions in the Oxford Police Department’s Alabama East Metro Crime Area which include some law enforcement agencies in Calhoun, Clay, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph, St. Clair and Talladega counties.
Talladega College – $345,112 to develop four community-based safety programs including gun violence prevention and community safety, mental health and suicide prevention and mental health support. The program will also involve the city of Talladega, the Talladega County Emergency Management Agency and AltaPointe Health.
University of South Alabama– $1 million to establish a program to reach court-affiliated youth in Mobile County who are at high risk of committing crimes and gun violence using a public health approach. The pilot program may also be expanded to other Alabama counties.
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.
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