WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to improve public safety, prevent crime, and serve justice, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today announced $9.85 million in federal funding to support police officers, law enforcement agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

The funding will be used to implement a range of crime reduction strategies and criminal justice initiatives to help keep people and communities safe, including:

  • Combating violence, drug trafficking, and various forms of crime with evidence-based, collaborative strategies and programs across the state;
  • Preventing domestic violence and assisting survivors;
  • Bolstering forensic science research and services;
  • Upgrading criminal records systems, registries, and critical technological infrastructure; and
  • Preventing children from being victimized by online predators.

“Crime has no place in our communities.  Along with my colleagues in the delegation, I fight and vote every year to deliver more federal funds to prevent and solve crimes, serve justice, and support victims.  This federal funding is a result of those efforts.  It will enhance public safety, reduce crime, and strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve,” said Senator Reed.

“Rhode Island’s law enforcement and public safety organizations provide heroic support to our communities.  When we equip them to best respond to our communities’ needs, we save lives,” said Senator Whitehouse, a former Rhode Island Attorney General and senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  “I am pleased to help deliver federal investments to modernize our criminal justice system, fight the opioid epidemic, expand behavioral and mental health services, and support survivors of violent crime.”

“Keeping Rhode Islanders safe is a top priority, and that means supporting Rhode Island’s police officers, law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations in their important work to prevent crime and deliver justice,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “These federal grants will be used to crack down on drug trafficking, support survivors of violent crimes, improve officer safety and more, and my colleagues in the federal delegation and I will continue fighting for funding that will create a stronger, safer Rhode Island for all.”

“Keeping Rhode Islanders safe is a top priority for our delegation and I’m proud of our collaborative effort to secure these federal resources,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “Whether it’s helping law enforcement realize a model of community policing or assisting nonprofit organizations as they support victims of crime, this federal funding will improve public safety in the Ocean State.”

The federal funding, which was secured in the 2024 appropriations bills, will be distributed to the state, as well as to local police departments, state agencies, support organizations, and nonprofits, including:

$2,935,210 for the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety through the Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program, which is funded by the Victims of Crime Act’s (VOCA) Crime Victims Fund and helps to bolster the state’s ability to provide assistance to victims of violent crime and survivors of sexual assault. Senators Reed and Whitehouse have been longtime champions of strengthening the VOCA Crime Victims Fund and increasing the amount of funding that can be awarded through the program.

$1,038,449 for the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety to carry out its Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors (STOP) program which helps develop strategies for law enforcement, prosecutors, and the court to combat violent crimes against women and to strengthen victim services in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

$1,000,000 for Family Service of Rhode Island (FSRI) to partner with Central Falls for the implementation of an innovative project to improve school safety; prevent youth violence, delinquency, and victimizations; actively engage families and improve communication between schools and families; and provide cutting-edge, evidence-based practices to address trauma exposure and prevent future violence.

$800,000 for Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to support statewide partnerships with leading nonprofits to launch the ‘Pathways to Prevention: Strategically Assessing and Enhancing the Youth Service System’ project which uses community-led public safety solutions that combine improved accountability with greater investments in prevention to assist youth who have been involved with DCYF.

$782,273 for the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety Grant Administration Office (PSGAO) to distribute Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants to communities across Rhode Island for areas of greatest need.

$698,613 for the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety to support implementation of extreme risk protection order programs, behavioral health treatment, and other forms of crisis intervention across the state.

$667,596 for the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety Grant Administration Office (PSGAO) to improve technology infrastructure for the Rhode Island State Police (RISP) and replace fingerprinting devices for several local police departments. Funding will also assist with reducing the backlog of digital data entry work to update final court dispositions and to sync data in the system that manages the tracking of no-contact orders statewide with the Judiciary’s internal case management system.

$375,000 for the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center for transitional housing and support services designed to protect victims of domestic violence, help survivors of abuse safely relocate and secure permanent housing and employment, and help them successfully integrate into their new community.

$351,128 for the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety to meet local and national Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force goals and crack down on cyber abuse and exploitation.  The federal funds may support additional personnel to keep up with the demand of investigative and forensic analysis, continued specialized training in emerging investigative techniques, and updated forensic software and hardware, as well as continued targeted educational campaigns for local communities on internet safety and online child victimization.

$294,696 for the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety to bolster training and efficiency for the state’s forensic science and medical examiner/coroner services. The funds will help expand capacity and staffing and maintain accreditation at the state’s various accredited forensic laboratories while also supporting the purchase of cutting-edge laboratory equipment.

$183,764 for the Providence Police Department to carry out technological infrastructure improvements and upgrades for the department.

$148,996 for the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (DOC) to support a residential substance use disorder treatment program in partnership with The Providence Center (TPC). The program offers a four and six-month treatment phase followed by a six-month recovery phase that can accommodate up to 100 individuals at a time. The goals of the program are to provide intense substance use disorder treatment and recovery case management services and including transition and discharge planning for participants preparing to re-integrate into the community.

$95,055 for the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) Office of the State Medical Examiner (OSME) to help medical examiners conduct forensic death investigations. The federal funds will support a series of strategic activities with the overall goal of enhancing turnaround times and ensuring accuracy while the office seeks to regain full accreditation status from the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) and to hire a permanent Chief Medical Examiner.

$80,551 for Rhode Island Department of Public Safety’s Project Safe Neighborhood Urban Corridor Task Force to address violent crime rates, gang-related violence, drug trafficking, and other crimes across the state, with a focus on collaboration with local law enforcement agencies in the cities of Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, Cranston, Warwick, and Woonsocket.

$67,154 for the City of Pawtucket to support Pawtucket police overtime costs.

$61,816 for the Office of the Public Defender to support recruitment and retention efforts for defenders and prosecutors, including programs that assist with reducing the financial burden of student loans which can discourage lawyers from pursuing careers in defense and prosecution.

$51,316 for the City of Woonsocket to carry out the Woonsocket Police Department’s justice assistance initiative with the goal of deterring and preventing crime, targeted to local community needs.

$50,000 for the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety to support completion of the department’s Death in Custody Reporting Act (DCRA) implementation plan, train local law enforcement agencies on rules, regulations, and best practices, and expand capacity to better handle Rhode Island’s DCRA project with the goal of increasing efficiency and accuracy for the Rhode Island Statistical Analysis Center (SAC).

$47,940 for the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety to help update and implement new technology for the state’s sex offender registry and public notification software package that was purchased in July 2020. Funding will assist the department in bringing the State into Sex Offender and Registration Notification Act (SORNA) compliance and boost efficiency of the registry.

$26,425 for the Cranston Police Department to support the acquisition of modern and reliable equipment and gear for the department’s tactical unit that will enhance precision and efficiency, improve safety for officers, and strengthen the unit’s ability to meet diverse operational challenges.

$23,970 for the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety to support alignment and compliance between the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, Rhode Island DCYF, and RISP with regard to federal prison rape prevention regulations in all types of correctional facilities.

$19,960 for the City of Central Falls to upgrade and replace various safety equipment and gear for detectives and patrol officers.

$16,890 for the City of East Providence to implement its police mobile command and K9 deployment project.

$15,838 for the City of Warwick to acquire safety equipment and other gear for law enforcement response and support during events that necessitate crowd control measures.

$15,031 for the City of Newport to carry out active shooter training and purchase related equipment.

$10,102 for the Town of North Providence to install security cameras.