PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Governor Maura Healey convened community partners, state public safety officials, District Attorneys, and police to discuss collaborative community partnerships that have proven impacts on public safety. 

 

During the event, Governor Healey announced that the state has invested nearly $1.5 million in federal grant funds to support violence prevention, response and community engagement efforts through the summer and fall months when violent crime is often at its peak. 

 

"The Safer Communities grant program invests in the success of strong partnerships, and underscores the importance of a team approach to the prevention, intervention and enforcement strategies needed to improve community safety and reach at-risk youth," said Governor Maura Healey. "No single agency can do it alone, but working as partners, across disciplines and jurisdictions, we can make meaningful changes in young people's lives." 

 

The Berkshire District Attorney's Office received $99,933.  

 

The Safer Communities Initiative is offered by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), a state agency that is part of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS). The program provides funding to District Attorneys and Massachusetts State Police, which is made available through the federal Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. 

 

The Safer Communities Initiative takes an innovative approach to addressing community violence by requiring District Attorney's Offices to dedicate half of their awarded funds to projects aimed at prevention, intervention and/or diversion programming. The remainder of the funds are intended to support enforcement and prosecution.? In addition, a portion of the funds received by State Police will support youth programming.?  

 

"The Safer Communities grant program invests in the success of strong partnerships, and underscores the importance of a team approach to the prevention, intervention and enforcement strategies needed to improve community safety and reach at-risk youth," said Governor Maura Healey. "No single agency can do it alone, but working as partners, across disciplines and jurisdictions, we can make meaningful changes in young people's lives." 

 

District Attorneys and their community partners provide impactful programming for at-risk youth that included skill building, personal development, and services to address areas of need such as trauma and substance use. Grant-funded enforcement efforts conducted in partnership between State Police and local police resulted in the removal of 95 illegally possessed firearms from Massachusetts communities and the seizure of approximately 44,000 grams of heroin and fentanyl, 2,900 grams of cocaine and crack and 4,000 grams of marijuana, according to State Police data from July through December 2022.

 

"Youth violence has a profound impact on victims, families, and communities. Strong partnerships and collaborative result-driven solutions remain the most effective way to address the complex issues that drive gun violence," said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy. "The administration is proud to provide resources in support of the hard work and community collaborations designed to improve community safety, reduce gun violence and strengthen youth engagement."   

 

The Safer Communities Initiative is one of several programs administered by OGR focused on preventing youth and gang-related violence. OGR manages the Shannon Community Safety Initiative and partners with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts to administer Project Safe Neighborhoods.