| The U.S. Attorney’s Office celebrates a comprehensive federal grant funds package awarded to the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, the Puerto Rico Forensic Science Institute, and to Community Response to Gender-Based Violence Stakeholders in excess of $28.8 million.
“The Puerto Rico U.S. Attorney’s Office works closely with our state law enforcement partners and community response stakeholders to effectively investigate and prosecute crimes and provide justice and protection to our victims of crime. Identifying available federal funding and ensuring that these funds are properly and efficiently expended enhances our collaborative law enforcement efforts,” said United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow.
These recent funding allocations from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) are intended to build community capacity to curb violence, serve victims and youth, and achieve fair outcomes through evidence-based criminal and juvenile justice strategies.
Among the most significant awards, the Puerto Rico Department of Justice received $12.6 million for the VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant to enhance victim services in Puerto Rico. Additionally, the Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded $700,000 to institute a Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) through the Puerto Rico Forensic Science Institute. That initiative also provides funding for the hiring of a Special Prosecutor, primarily in charge of firearms prosecutions arising from intelligence gathered from the CGIC. Other significant awards are listed below:
| Date |
Grant |
Recipient |
Amount |
| 9/28/23 |
OJJDP FY 2023 Title II Formula Grants Program |
Oficina para el Desarrollo Socioeconómico y Comunitario |
$590,509 |
| 9/28/23 |
BJA FY 23 John R. Justice (JRJ) Formula Grant Program |
PR Department of Justice |
$ 89,310 |
| 9/26/23 |
BJA FY 2023 Invited to Apply- Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Reallocation Funds Program |
PR Department of Justice |
$136,058 |
| 9/26/23 |
OJJDP Combined FY 2021 and FY 2022 Invited to Apply – Prison Rape Elimination Act Reallocation Funds |
Oficina para el Desarrollo Socioeconómico y Comunitario |
$ 27,761 |
| 9/25/23 |
BJA FY 23 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program – Formula |
Instituto de Ciencias Forenses |
$312,708 |
| 9/25/23 |
BJA FY 23 Project Safe Neighborhoods Formula Grant Program |
PR Department of Housing |
$133,930 |
| 9/25/23 |
OJJDP FY 2023 Strategies to Support Children Exposed to Violence |
Boys & Girls Club of Puerto Rico |
$972,405 |
| 9/22/23 |
BJA FY 23 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program – State Solicitation |
PR Department of Justice |
$2,313,909 |
| 9/18/23 |
BJA FY 23 Invited to Apply Sex Offender and Registration Notification Act (SORNA) Reallocation Program |
PR Department of Justice |
$272,117 |
| 9/8/23 |
BJA FY 23 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center Integration Initiative |
Instituto de Ciencias Forenses |
$700,000 |
| 9/8/23 |
Formula DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) |
Instituto de Ciencias Forenses |
$675,188 |
| 8/23/23 |
VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant |
PR Department of Justice |
$12,669,225 |
| 8/23/23 |
VOCA Victim Compensation Formula Grant |
PR Department of Justice |
$309,000 |
| 8/10/23 |
Invited to Apply- Byrne Discretionary Community Project Funding/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program |
Municipality of Loíza |
$279,000 |
| 8/10/23 |
Invited to Apply- Byrne Discretionary Community Project Funding/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program |
Municipality of Vieques |
$420,000 |
| 8/10/23 |
Invited to Apply- Byrne Discretionary Community Project Funding/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program |
Municipality of Ciales |
$ 92,000 |
| 2/13/23 |
BJA FY 2022-2023 Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program Formula Solicitation |
PR Department of Justice |
$2,274,664 |
More information about the awards announced can be found by visiting www.ojp.gov/funding/fy23awards.
In order to provide support to victims of crime, the Justice Department announced nearly $193 million in formula and discretionary grant awards to support crucial services and justice responses for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including $6,496,287 for the District of Puerto Rico to support community responses to gender-based violence. Among those grants are the following:
| Date |
Grant |
Recipient |
Amount |
| 9/27/23 |
OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Solicitation |
Proyecto Matria, Inc. |
$550,000 |
| 9/22/23 |
OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking – Solicitation |
Taller Salud, Inc. |
$450,000 |
| 9/22/23 |
OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking – Solicitation |
Hogar Ruth, Inc. |
$575,000 |
| 9/22/23 |
OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking – Solicitation |
Casa Juana Colón, Apoyo y Orientación a la Mujer, Inc. |
$400,000 |
| 9/22/23 |
OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Sexual Assault Services |
Hogar Ruth, Inc. |
$495,000 |
| 9/8/23 |
OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Legal Assistance for Victims – Solicitation |
Taller Salud, Inc. |
$750,000 |
| 8/22/23 |
OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Sexual Assault Services and Formula Program – Solicitation |
Women’s Advocate Office |
$858,652 |
OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through implementing VAWA and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW administers financial and technical assistance to communities nationwide that are developing programs, policies, and practices to end domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW undertakes initiatives in response to special needs identified by communities facing acute challenges. Learn more atwww.justice.gov/ovw. |
