Federal dollars support anti-gang programs

Grand Valley's School of Criminal Justice will receive more than $345,000 in federal funds for programs aimed at curbing gang violence in Western Michigan. The programs include support for anti-crime education programs delivered by community organizations, as well as support for special prosecution and law enforcement initiatives.

“The funds help us leverage existing resources with an influx of federal monies to support programs that otherwise wouldn’t be possible,” said William Crawley, associate professor and director of the School Criminal Justice. “In addition, it also helps us build sustainable relationships across the partners involved throughout the district — prosecutors, law enforcement, investigators and community-based organizations.”

Crawley, who sits on the Western Michigan Project Safe Neighborhood Task Force, said Grand Valley’s role is to serve as expert advisors on strategy and fiscal oversight for organizations planning to request funding support.

The funds were awarded under the Department of Justice 2007 Anti-Gang Initiative program. The program is an extension of the existing Project Safe Neighborhoods anti-gun violence programs which Grand Valley became involved with in 2003.