Amata Welcomes Two Grants for Criminal Justice System

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming notice of $467,587 in federal funds for American Samoa's criminal justice system. These funds are part of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding program of the US Justice Department's Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and this grant is about $13,000 more than last year’s September notice.

The Byrne Grant is a leading source of federal funding for the justice programs of states and territories. These grants are for areas like law enforcement, prosecution and defense efforts, courts, crime prevention and education, corrections, drug treatment, and technology.

"Thank you to Director Mariana Timu-Faiai and her team at the American Samoa Criminal Justice Planning Agency for all their efforts,” said Aumua Amata. “The territory’s justice system is essential to a safe, lawful community. Congratulations to all involved in bringing these needed funds to this important work.”

Additional Grant Notice

This grant of $20,267 is through the Bureau of Justice Assistance FY 22 John R. Justice (JRJ) Formula Grant Program, to assist in attracting and retaining attorneys to work and live in American Samoa. The program supplies federal funding assistance to the criminal justice system service providers, not to supplant existing local funding resources, but to support additional and innovative efforts to provide assistance in the analysis and audit aspect of the program.

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