U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) announced 15 counties and 18 cities in Georgia have received a total of $1.76 million in U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) grants to help states and local governments prevent and control crime based on local needs and conditions.

“Everywhere I go in Georgia, I hear about increases in crime and concerns about public safety,” said Loeffler. “These grants will go a long way to helping our communities prevent crime, break up gang networks, stop domestic violence and hold criminals accountable. In the United States Senate, I have introduced legislation to ensure law enforcement has the funding they need to keep all Americans safe and to help prosecutors charge the criminals responsible for crimes arising from recent violent protests. I am glad to have strong partners in President Trump and Attorney General Barr, who are equally committed to ensuring our country is safe and secure.”

Background: 

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program provides funding for programs or initiatives including drug and gang task forces, crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment or other programs aimed at reducing crime or enhancing public safety. Loeffler has sent a letter to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee advocating for funding for this important grant program.

Loeffler has introduced legislation as part of her USA Safe Families and Secure Futures Planto withhold federal highway safety funding from states or local governments that reduce funding for law enforcement entities without a clear budgetary need; to grant the U.S. Attorney General the authority to reduce certain DOJ grants and funding to jurisdictions where state and local prosecutors are abusing prosecutorial discretion and failing to prosecute crimes arising from riots and other violent protests; to help prosecutors successfully charge those who commit violent crimes during protests; and to strengthen federal sentencing guidelines for criminal gang activity, create a federal database for criminal street gang activity within DOJ and make it easier to deport illegal aliens involved in criminal gangs.

The following Georgia counties received $766,000 in grants:

• Athens-Clarke County: $34,451

• Augusta Richmond County: $45,657

• Baldwin County: $19,394

• Bartow County: $18,559

• Carroll County: $13,226

• Clayton County: $120,161

• Cobb County: $99,852

• Dekalb County: $224,081

• Hall County: $19,448

• Henry County: $26,532

• Macon-Bibb County: $73,535

• Newton County: $27,636

• Paulding County: $14,815

• Rockdale County: $13,710

• Walker County: $15,569

The following Georgia cities received $1 million in grants:

• Albany: $67,582

• Atlanta: $425,320

• Carrollton: $11,960

• College Park: $17,697

• Columbus: $155,221

• Douglasville: $17,024

• East Point: $35,825

• Forest Park: $11,475

• Griffin: $30,223

• Hinesville: $11,017

• Marietta: $17,832

• Rome: $14,330

• Roswell: $10,155

• Savannah: $99,286

• Smyrna: $13,064

• Tifton: $11,744

• Union City: $18,855

• Warner Robins: $35,636