Congressman Bennie G. Thompson Announces DOJ Grants Totaling Over $1.5 Million to Mississippi Department of Public Safety

BOLTON, MS — Congressman Bennie G. Thompson is proud to announce that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded two significant grants to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MDPS) to improve public safety and juvenile justice reform across the state. The grants, totaling more than $1.5 million, are part of ongoing federal efforts to support state-level justice initiatives and protect communities.

1. $250,000 SMART FY 2024 Support for Adam Walsh Act (AWA) Implementation Grant Program
   The Mississippi Department of Public Safety will use these funds for two major initiatives:
   • Conduct a Statewide Training Symposium for sheriff’s offices and other law enforcement personnel responsible for sex offender registration, notification, and monitoring.
   • Implement an IT-Based Solution to enhance the accuracy of sex offender registration by identifying and validating missing or erroneous data.
2. $1,323,817 OJJDP FY24 Juvenile Justice System Reform and Reinvestment Initiative Grant
   The Mississippi Juvenile Justice System Reform project aims to improve juvenile justice policies and practices by:
   • Building a comprehensive evaluation framework with system partners to assess diversion programs and cost savings from reduced incarceration.
   • Incorporating feedback from youth and families via satisfaction surveys to guide decision-making and reform efforts.
   • Developing a Steering Committee to produce a final report with recommendations for the state legislature on enhancing juvenile justice programming, including greater investment in diversion and delinquency prevention.