Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force Releases the First List of Grantees Funded by Taxpayers

CHICAGO – Underscoring transparency, state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, and state Rep. Fran Hurley, D-Mt. Greenwood, are encouraging the public to review violence prevention program grantee lists now posted on ilga.gov in advance of a Monday hearing on the efforts.

“Millions of dollars are awarded to fight crime and reduce violence in Illinois, we must support agencies that have track records of violence reduction,” Ford said. “We can no longer use taxpayers’ hard-earned money to fund programs that are not effective.”

Violence prevention program grants are handled through the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) and Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA). A full listing of their current grantees can be viewed at the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Task Force’s webpage at https://ilga.gov/house/committees/TFJCTestimony.asp?IDName=Public%20Safety%20and%20Violence%20Prevention&TFJCType=T&GA=102.

Community-based violence intervention and prevention program grantees will be the focus of a task force hearing scheduled for Monday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. The meeting will be fully virtual. To watch an online stream, please visit https://ilga.gov/houseaudvid.asp.

“We plan to call grantees to the table to have candid discussions about actual effectiveness, but we also want to learn how to better support the programs that do have a demonstrated impact,” Hurley said. “The organizations that lead successful, on-the-ground community efforts are integral partners in the effort to fight crime, and I look forward to hearing what they have to say.”