Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $1.9 Million to Enhance Public Safety

Braintree — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded $1.9 million to support statewide strategies for violence prevention and enhance community-based partnerships. The state funding was made available through a newly created grant program focused on improving quality of life, bolstering youth programming, reducing street violence, and preventing illegal drug distribution across Massachusetts.

The Commonwealth’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program, administered by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), was introduced in the FY24 budget, making state funds available to District Attorney’s Offices and State Police to address gun crimes, gang violence, and narcotics offenses. Nine District Attorney’s Offices and the Massachusetts State Police received grant awards. District Attorneys will dedicate at least 25% of the funding to prevention, intervention, and/or diversion programming. State Police received funding for seven projects and will provide youth programming through one of their funded initiatives.

“This new grant program fosters the partnerships and supports the collaborative solutions that make a meaningful difference in our communities,” said Governor Maura Healey. “By investing in these efforts, we’re empowering community partners to deliver vital services to at-risk youth while promoting safe, thriving communities across Massachusetts. We're grateful to the Legislature for their partnership in making this critical funding available.”

“Partnership between law enforcement and the communities they serve is the cornerstone of effective public safety. This funding is an investment in the enduring success of strong partnerships,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “Through this grant program, we provide public safety with essential resources to enhance community engagement and deliver evidence-based programs.”

Grant funds will support a wide range of community-based prevention, intervention, outreach, and diversion programs. Funded programs include substance use disorder recovery services for teens on the Cape and Islands provided by Behavioral Health Innovators, diversion programming through the Middlesex DA’s Office Juvenile Diversion Program and Young Adult Diversion Program and school-based mentorship at several Berkshire County middle schools as well as Brockton High School in Plymouth County.

Massachusetts State Police will use grant funds to expand programming through the department’s statewide Together Everyone Achieves More (TEAM) community outreach program. This program offers youth sports activities and other programming designed to reduce youth involvement in gang activity.

“This grant program supports a coordinated approach to public safety by prioritizing efforts to engage youth, intervene before harm occurs and provide alternatives to prosecution and incarceration. These efforts, partnered with enforcement initiatives, will help to address the complex issues that drive gun violence while improving outcomes for youth,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy.

“No two regions or cities face identical challenges. Each requires a tailored response. This program allows prosecutors and law enforcement to identify public safety needs and service gaps in their communities, then directs grant funds to address those areas of greatest need. We’re proud to partner with these agencies to promote safe communities,” said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton.

The FY25 budget proposal put forward by the Healey-Driscoll administration includes funding that will allow the anti-violence program to continue in the future.

Recipients of FY24 Commonwealth’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program grants are:

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