Four Tribes in Western Wisconsin Will Receive Grants Totaling More Than $3.5 Million

Justice Department will award up to $246 million in grants to improve public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, joined the U.S. Department of Justice today in announcing more than $113 million in grant awards to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women, and support youth programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Four tribes within the Western District of Wisconsin have received grants totaling more than $3.5 million.

• The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians will receive a $710,599 Justice Systems and Alcohol and Substance Abuse grant. 
• The Ho-Chunk Nation will receive a $203,460 Public Safety and Community Policing grant. 
• The Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa will receive a $724,585 Justice Systems and Alcohol and Substance Abuse grant, a $412,231 Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program grant, and a $449,973 Comprehensive Tribal Victim Assistance Program grant. 
• The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians will receive a $286,900 Public Safety and Community Policing grant, and a $750,000 Justice Systems and Alcohol and Substance Abuse grant.

“These grants will give Wisconsin tribes the resources they need to meet the public safety challenges facing their communities and provide services to victims of crime,” said U.S. Attorney Blader.

Two Wisconsin tribes located in the Eastern District of Wisconsin also will receive grants.

• The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin will receive four grants totaling over $2.9 million
• The Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin will receive two grants totaling almost $508,000.

Nationwide, grants were awarded to 133 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, and other tribal designees through the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, a streamlined application for tribal-specific grant programs. Of the $113 million, just over $53 million comes from the Office of Justice Programs, more than $35 million from the Office on Violence Against Women, and more than $24.7 million from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

In addition, the Department is in the process of allocating up to $133 million in a first-ever set aside program to serve victims of crime in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.  The awards are 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.

“With these awards, we are doubling the amount of grant funding devoted to public safety programs and serving victims of crime in Native American communities,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio.  “There is an unacceptable level of violent crime and domestic abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.  This increase in resources, together with our aggressive investigation and prosecution of crimes, shows how seriously Attorney General Sessions and the entire Department of Justice take these issues.  We are committed to reducing violent crime and improving public safety.”

CTAS awards cover nine purpose areas: public safety and community policing; justice systems planning; alcohol and substance abuse; corrections and correctional alternatives; children’s justice act partnerships; services for victims of crime; violence against women; juvenile justice; and tribal youth programs. CTAS funding helps tribes develop and strengthen their justice systems’ response to crime, while expanding services to meet their communities’ public safety needs.

Today’s announcement is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

A listing of today’s announced CTAS awards is available at: www.justice.gov/tribal/page/file/1095161/download.