STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
Gov. Andy Beshear announced that his administration is awarding $2.1 million in grant funding to 14 law enforcement agencies and one nonprofit organization. The funding will be used to curb the sale of illegal drugs and fight addiction.
The awards are from Kentucky’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) and are federal funds. As the administration works to further decrease drug overdose deaths, JAG funds will again be used to support drug task forces while also supporting prevention programs, drug treatment and education programs, mental health programs and crime victim and witness programs.
Early this year, Kentucky was recognized as only one of eight states to see a decline in drug overdoses last year. That was a decline of more than 5% compared with the previous year and is the first decline since 2018.
“These funds allow us to continue our support for crime victims while aiding law enforcement in their effort to create a better, safer Kentucky,” Gov. Beshear said. “By working together, we can take illegal drugs off the streets and ensure the services provided to affected Kentuckians are second to none.”
In addition to continued support for drug task forces, this year’s awards include support for a de-escalation and conflict resolution training curriculum for law enforcement officers and providing services to the justice-involved population. The funding will serve to further reduce the recidivism rate in Kentucky, which is currently the lowest in the state’s history.
The Barren River Drug Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional agency that serves Barren and Allen counties, received $114,545 of the $2.1 million in funds, according to the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The full breakdown of the JAG grant distribution can be viewed here.
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