WASHINGTON — D.C.'s attorney general announced a new grant program aimed at curbing youth violence in the District. The Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Violence Prevention Grant Program is designed to foster positive development among District youth, the attorney general's office said Wednesday.
The grants will provide up to $250,000 to local nonprofits dedicated to an evidence-based, preventive approach to crime reduction.
“Improving public safety by ensuring that D.C. kids lead healthy, hopeful lives is one of our office’s core priorities. Hopeful children are safer children – to themselves and everyone around them. In addition to holding juvenile offenders accountable and supporting victims after crimes occur, we also have to invest in proactive strategies to prevent crime before it happens,” said Attorney General Schwalb. “Policing and prosecution are two critical components of a public safety strategy, but the District cannot arrest and incarcerate its way out of crime. Prevention must be part of a comprehensive crime strategy as it is equally important and necessary in making our community safer now and in the long run. I look forward to investing in and partnering with organizations dedicated to bringing innovative ideas, methods, and tools to mitigating risk factors in youth and aiding the long-term success of young people in the District.”
The District continues to grapple with a rise in violent crime, particularly among young people. In the first nine months of 2023, there have been 458 arrests of juveniles for robbery, including carjacking, homicide, or assault with a dangerous weapon. That's 10% more than the total number of such arrests in all of 2022, according to the Bowser administration. D.C. leaders say young people represent one-third of all carjacking arrests.
Throughout 2023, the District took steps to address the rise in violent crime among young people, including the introduction of the Safer Stronger Amendment in May.
"OAG prosecutes all serious juvenile violent offenses when it has the evidence to do so, holding holds kids accountable when they cause harm while also working to make sure they get the resources they need to help prevent them from re-offending," the AG's office said in a press statement Wednesday.
Services eligible for the grants include academic achievement and workplace readiness, youth and family support, trauma-informed services and conflict resolution, as well as mentoring, youth advocacy and mental health counseling.
To receive grant funding, all services and programming must be provided in the District of Columbia. Grants are available for Fiscal Year 2024 and eligible applicants must apply by 11:59 PM on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.
For more information on how to apply, click here.
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