WASHINGTON, DC The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) informed U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) that the Rhode Island Justice Commission will receive $132,479 to combat gang activity throughout the state. Funding will be used to create an anti-gang program at the Rhode Island Training School that will use specialized police tactics, youth outreach, and a mentoring program for juvenile offenders who are about to be released from the training schools. The projects goals are to reduce gang-related crime committed by juveniles and adults in the City of Providence, perform periodic assessments of the projects anti-gang strategys effectiveness, commit law enforcement resources to combat the low-level transient street gangs operating in Providence, and provide training on latest regional and national gang trends and tendencies. We must do everything we can to crack down on gang violence and prevent kids from joining gangs. That means common sense legislation, proactive law enforcement and significant investment in these efforts, Reed said. This money will help give law enforcement better tools and information to prevent gang activity, expand effective anti-gang initiatives, and enhance the quality of life in Providences neighborhoods.The Anti-Gang Initiative will be led by the U.S. Attorney in each of the 94 federal judicial districts across the nation. Funding may be used by the existing Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) task force to combat gangs by leveraging current strategies and partnerships developed under the PSN initiatives or to develop new anti-gang initiatives.