American Indian communities in Idaho awarded $1.8 million from justice department
By Idaho Press Staff
September 23, 2018
Two American Indian tribes in Idaho on Wednesday were awarded $1.8 million from the U.S. Department of Justice in grants to improve public safety in their communities.
According to a news release from the Idaho U.S. Attorney’s Office, the money was part of a $113 million sum awarded to Native American and Alaska Native communities nationwide. The two tribes in the Idaho district to receive the money were the Nez Perce and the Shoshone-Bannock, who received a collective $1,852,587.
Of that money, officials awarded the $236,687 Justice Systems and Alcohol and Substance Abuse Grant to northern Idaho’s Nez Perce, according to the release. The Shoshone-Bannock of eastern Idaho will receive the $750,000 Justice Systems and Alcohol and Substance Abuse Grant, as well as the $865,900 Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program Grant.
Idaho U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced the grants Wednesday alongside the U.S. Justice Department. They were part of grants awarded to 133 American Indian tribes nationwide. Of that money, roughly $53 million comes from the Office of Justice Programs, while more than $35 million comes from the Office on Violence Against Women, and more than $24.7 million comes from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, according to the release.
In addition to that, the department is in the process of awarding up to $113 million more to American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
That money is, according to the release, intended to “help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims of crime by providing funding, programming and technical assistance.”
Recipients will be announced in the near future, according to the release.