DOJ Awards $85.3 Million in Grants to Combat School Violence

Last month, the Department of justice (DOJ) announced that it has awarded $85.3 million in Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act (STOP School Violence Act) grants to 215 local governments, schools and school districts, communities and public agencies across the United States.

Funding for FY 2019 was provided by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), with the OJP contributing $53 million through three separate funding opportunities, and COPS giving $32.5 million through its School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP).

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) STOP School Violence Technology and Threat Assessment Solutions for Safer Schools Program

Grant money awarded through this program directly assists school administrators, students and first responders with the ability to use threat assessments, crisis intervention teams and anonymous reporting technology. It also supports the establishment and continued advancement of State School Safety Centers.

$29.5 million was awarded to 68 communities and public agencies within the following categories:

• State population greater than 5,000,000
• State population fewer than 5,000,000
• Urban area or large county population greater than 500,000
• Suburban area or county population between 100,000 and 500,000
• Rural area or county population fewer than 100,000
• Federally recognized Indian tribe
• Anonymous reporting
• State school safety centers

BJA’s STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program

This program’s purpose is to supply training to students and school employees — including volunteers, counselors, coaches and school resource officers — that improves their response to and ability to prevent mental health crises that may trigger violent attacks on school grounds.

$17.3 million was awarded to 43 communities and public agencies within the following categories:

• State population greater than 5,000,000
• State population fewer than 5,000,000
• Urban area or county population greater than 500,000
• Suburban area or county population between 100,000 and 500,000
• Rural area or small county population fewer than 100,000

BJA’s STOP School Violence Training and Technical Assistance Program

This program funds training and technical assistance for current and future STOP School Violence recipients. Regents of the University of Michigan received $6 Million through this grant program.

In exchange, the grant recipient will share information and research on school violence and safety with the BJA, COPS and the various sectors of the criminal justice community. It will also act as a resource and training center, supplying information and research on national and statewide school safety initiatives to all who seek it.

COPS’ School Violence Prevention Program

The SVVP grants support the improvement of school security through evidence-based school safety and violence prevention programs.

$32.5 million was awarded to 103 schools and school districts serving grades k -12 to fund 75% of the following school safety measures:

• Coordination with law enforcement
• Student violence prevention training for local law enforcement officers
• Metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures
• Technology to precipitate school emergency reporting to local law enforcement
• Any other measure COPS Office warrants necessary to provide improvement in security

View the full award announcement, including details about recipients.