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Press Release

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of PR Celebrates the Award of Federal Grant Funds in Excess of $28.8 Million to the PR Department of Justice, the Forensic Science Institute, and to Stakeholders in Community Responses to Gender-Based Violence

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Puerto Rico

The U.S. Attorney’s Office celebrates a comprehensive federal grant funds package awarded to the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, the Puerto Rico Forensic Science Institute, and to Community Response to Gender-Based Violence Stakeholders in excess of $28.8 million.  

“The Puerto Rico U.S. Attorney’s Office works closely with our state law enforcement partners and community response stakeholders to effectively investigate and prosecute crimes and provide justice and protection to our victims of crime.  Identifying available federal funding and ensuring that these funds are properly and efficiently expended enhances our collaborative law enforcement efforts,” said United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. 

These recent funding allocations from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) are intended to build community capacity to curb violence, serve victims and youth, and achieve fair outcomes through evidence-based criminal and juvenile justice strategies.

Among the most significant awards, the Puerto Rico Department of Justice received $12.6 million for the VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant to enhance victim services in Puerto Rico. Additionally, the Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded $700,000 to institute a Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) through the Puerto Rico Forensic Science Institute.  That initiative also provides funding for the hiring of a Special Prosecutor, primarily in charge of firearms prosecutions arising from intelligence gathered from the CGIC. Other significant awards are listed below:

Date

Grant

Recipient

Amount

9/28/23

OJJDP FY 2023 Title II Formula Grants Program

Oficina para el Desarrollo Socioeconómico y Comunitario

             $590,509

9/28/23

BJA FY 23 John R. Justice (JRJ) Formula Grant Program

PR Department of Justice

$ 89,310

9/26/23

BJA FY 2023 Invited to Apply- Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Reallocation Funds Program

PR Department of Justice

$136,058

9/26/23

OJJDP Combined FY 2021 and FY 2022 Invited to Apply – Prison Rape Elimination Act Reallocation Funds

Oficina para el Desarrollo Socioeconómico y Comunitario

$ 27,761

9/25/23

BJA FY 23 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program - Formula

Instituto de Ciencias Forenses

$312,708

9/25/23

BJA FY 23 Project Safe Neighborhoods Formula Grant Program

PR Department of Housing

$133,930

9/25/23

OJJDP FY 2023 Strategies to Support Children Exposed to Violence

Boys & Girls Club of Puerto Rico

 $972,405

9/22/23

BJA FY 23 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program - State Solicitation

PR Department of Justice

$2,313,909

9/18/23

BJA FY 23 Invited to Apply Sex Offender and Registration Notification Act (SORNA) Reallocation Program

PR Department of Justice

$272,117

9/8/23

BJA FY 23 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center Integration Initiative

Instituto de Ciencias Forenses

$700,000

9/8/23

Formula DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)

Instituto de Ciencias Forenses

$675,188

8/23/23

VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant

PR Department of Justice

$12,669,225

8/23/23

VOCA Victim Compensation Formula Grant

PR Department of Justice

$309,000

8/10/23

Invited to Apply- Byrne Discretionary Community Project Funding/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program

Municipality of Loíza

$279,000

8/10/23

Invited to Apply- Byrne Discretionary Community Project Funding/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program

Municipality of Vieques

$420,000

8/10/23

Invited to Apply- Byrne Discretionary Community Project Funding/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program

Municipality of Ciales

$ 92,000

2/13/23

BJA FY 2022-2023 Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program Formula Solicitation

PR Department of Justice

$2,274,664

More information about the awards announced can be found by visiting www.ojp.gov/funding/fy23awards.

In order to provide support to victims of crime, the Justice Department announced nearly $193 million in formula and discretionary grant awards to support crucial services and justice responses for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including $6,496,287 for the District of Puerto Rico to support community responses to gender-based violence. Among those grants are the following:

Date

Grant

Recipient

Amount

9/27/23

OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Solicitation

Proyecto Matria, Inc.

$550,000

9/22/23

OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking - Solicitation

Taller Salud, Inc.

$450,000

9/22/23

OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking - Solicitation

Hogar Ruth, Inc.

$575,000

9/22/23

OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking - Solicitation

Casa Juana Colón, Apoyo y Orientación a la Mujer, Inc.

$400,000

9/22/23

OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Sexual Assault Services

Hogar Ruth, Inc.

$495,000

9/8/23

OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Legal Assistance for Victims - Solicitation

Taller Salud, Inc.

$750,000

8/22/23

OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Sexual Assault Services and Formula Program - Solicitation

Women’s Advocate Office

$858,652

OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through implementing VAWA and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities nationwide that are developing programs, policies, and practices to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more at www.justice.gov/ovw.

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Updated October 16, 2023

Topic
Grants