Department of Justice grants focus on youth violence prevention

National Institute of Justice Grants Fund Needed Research by the University of Washington

The U.S. Department of Justice is awarding $648,440 in two research grants to the University of Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.  One grant will be used to study the long-term developmental effects of exposure to violence on children while the other will evaluate treatment programs utilized by the Washington Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) and its effects on recidivism of youthful offenders.

“We must continue our commitment to prevention of crime, and to rehabilitation, particularly where our children’s lives are at stake,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. “The more we understand about the impact of violence and the causes of crime, the better prepared we will be to prevent it.”

The U.S. Attorney announced last week that the City of Seattle had been awarded $978,461 by the U.S. Department of Justice, for programs to reduce youth violence in the Rainier Beach neighborhood.  Studies like those to be conducted by the University of Washington make it possible to devise effective programs to better reduce violence among our youth.

The National Institute of Justice funds physical and social science research, development and evaluation projects about criminal justice through competitive solicitations. The focus of the solicitations varies from year to year based on research priorities and available funding.

Contact for this matter at the U.S. Attorney’s Office is Sean Tepfer: (206) 553-7970 or Sean.Tepfer@usdoj.gov