MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded three grants totaling nearly $450,000 to combat crime in several Alabama counties while helping one law enforcement agency in another county to upgrade its department enabling it to better serve its community.
Gov. Ivey awarded a $150,000 grant to the Extended Family program to help prevent crime in Calhoun, Cherokee, DeKalb and Etowah counties. A $149,982 grant will enable Dallas County to continue its adult drug court in an effort to steer people with substance abuse problems away from drugs.
The city of Abbeville was awarded a $149,996 grant to upgrade the police department’s records management system to ensure better management of its law enforcement files.
“The needs of our law enforcement community in Alabama are varied and diverse, but the goal is to prevent crime and ensure those who commit crimes are held accountable under the law,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to award these funds that will support crime prevention programs and new equipment.”
The awards were made available to the state through the U.S. Department of Justice. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the awards.
“ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in support of these programs that all have the intended purpose to reduce crime and increase safety in these communities,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.
The Centre-based Extended Family program works to ensure that kids whose family members and loved ones have been incarcerated learn not to repeat the kind of behavior that can lead to a troubled life. The program helps children learn to make good choices in life and is also aimed at building good character. It is offered in Cherokee, DeKalb, Calhoun and Etowah counties.
The Dallas County Adult Drug Court is a specialized treatment-oriented program designed to steer non-violent offenders away from crime and drug dependency and keep them out of jails and prison. The program involves accountability, drug testing, counseling and other services for people who have been referred by the legal system.
The Abbeville Police Department plans to invest funds in upgrading its records management system. The upgrade is expected to streamline workflows and eliminate redundant processes while saving the department time and resources.
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.
