Juvenile Funds Awarded

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency has awarded approximately $3 million in state and federal funds to assist Pennsylvania’s youth, as well as prevent harmful behaviors and support community programs and services.

The funds will support a variety of programs and services designed to prevent youth from entering the juvenile justice system, educate youth about the dangers of underage drinking and support collaborative efforts on state and national levels.

The grants awarded by PCCD include the following:

1. The Georgetown Juvenile Justice System Improvement Project, a collaborative effort between PCCD’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission and the Berks County Juvenile Probation Department. Pennsylvania is one of four states that will be a part of this national project, which is designed to help states learn and apply practical ways to use extensive research on effective juvenile justice programs in everyday practice, according to the PCCD.

2. The Internet Safety Project, which provides training and technical assistance to students, parents, communities and law enforcement on Internet safety and digital technology, including social media.

3. Enforcing Underage Drinking Law funds, used to support education and outreach efforts statewide and geared toward preventing underage drinking.

Additional funds awarded by the PCCD will be used to support statewide training for juvenile defense attorneys, implement and expand diversion programs for at-risk youth and assist Chester, Dauphin, Lancaster and Lehigh counties in funding summer work programs at evening reporting centers.

The centers provide an alternative to secure detention or out-of-home placement for young offenders, said the PCCD.

PCCD works to prevent and reduce crime and respond to the needs of victims, collaborating with state and local agencies and officials, victim service providers, juvenile and criminal justice agencies, community-based organizations and others, according to the agency.