Gov. Perry Announces $99,999 in Grants For Juvenile Offender Prevention Efforts
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today awarded $99,999 to the cities of Pharr, San Juan and Alamo for programs designed
to prevent gang activity and drug-related crime among juveniles in the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District.
The cities will coordinate efforts to provide prevention, enforcement and investigation services to local schools. These
grants are awarded under the federal Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) program and distributed by the Governor’s
Criminal Justice Division (CJD).
“These grants are an important step in aiding young Texans and protecting our communities,” Perry said. “Through
funding these services we are helping Texas youth, who are on a path of self destruction and crime, find their way back on
the road to becoming productive citizens, able to positively contribute to their community.”
Juvenile accountability programs focus on promoting greater accountability in the juvenile justice system. Local probation
departments, detention facilities and courts benefit from funding to improve services within the juvenile justice system.
The awards of $33,333 to each city will allow:
The City of Alamo to provide a police officer who will administer gang and substance abuse prevention programs to at-risk
students and act as a juvenile justice liaison between local school campuses, the police department and the local community.
The City of San Juan to provide a special investigator who will investigate crimes occurring in schools, including physical
violence, drug and alcohol issues, and gang activity within the PSJA Independent School District.
The City of Pharr to provide a law enforcement officer who will educate students, parents and school administrators in
gang prevention and awareness.
Each year, CJD provides more that $113 million in grants to help Texans at the forefront of the fight against crime.
CJD funds a variety of juvenile justice, criminal justice and victim services programs – all aimed at making Texas a
safer place.
