A Comprehensive Funding Approach to Public Safety in Tribal Communities

Last week, the Justice Department announced the posting of the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS), a comprehensive grant solicitation to support improvements to public safety, victim services and crime prevention in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

More than $101.4 million is available through the 2012 CTAS.  This year, funding can be used to conduct comprehensive planning, enhance law enforcement, bolster justice systems, support and enhance tribal efforts to prevent and control juvenile delinquency and strengthen the juvenile justice system, prevent youth substance abuse, serve victims of crimes like domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as support other crime-fighting efforts.

CTAS is a critical part of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities. This is the third year for CTAS, which provides tribal governments and tribal consortia with a single application to reach all of the department’s grant-making components, including the Office of Justice Programs, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, and the Office on Violence Against Women. It allows these grant-making components to assess the totality of the public safety needs of each tribe or tribal consortia. The FY 2012 CTAS reflects improvements developed as a result of tribal consultations, listening sessions, and other feedback. 

Commenting on the announcement, Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli said:

“We are committed to helping strengthen and sustain safe and healthy American Indian and Alaska Native communities with a funding process that is responsive and coordinated. This effort to streamline the grant application process, with multiple purpose areas, offers tribes and tribal consortia an opportunity to develop a comprehensive and community-based approach to public safety and support for victims.”

The Community Partnerships Grants Management System will begin accepting electronic applications on Monday, January 23, 2012. The deadline for submitting applications is 9:00 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, April 18, 2012.

For more information on the department’s efforts to strengthen public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, visit the Tribal Justice and Safety website at Justice.gov/tribal