FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 31, 2023) – Fourteen law enforcement agencies and one nonprofit organization are receiving a total of two-point-one million dollars in grant funding, which 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 and are federal funds. These funds will 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.
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.
Agencies awarded funding in the area include Barren River Drug Task Force and South Central Kentucky Drug Task Force, each receiving almost 115 thousand dollars; and Warren County Fiscal Court Drug Task Force will receive more than 141 thousand dollars.