The Civil Forfeiture Crime Remediation and Crime Prevention Grant Funding Program will provide up to $500,000 to organizations across the province for grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to deliver programs that support crime prevention or crime remediation.

Priorities for funding include projects that respond to identified emerging issues, such as gang prevention, combating human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Preference will also be given to projects that strengthen B.C. families and support vulnerable communities. The Victim Services and Crime Prevention Division will be accepting applications until Monday, Oct. 3, 2011.

Organizations eligible to receive funding include community and youth organizations, victim service programs, violence against women programs, school districts, police departments, Aboriginal organizations, First Nations Bands and local governments.

The Civil Forfeiture Act enables the Supreme Court to order to the Province, the forfeiture of property acquired as a result of, or used to further unlawful activity. The five-year-old Civil Forfeiture Office has provided police with an additional tool to help deter unlawful activity and has seen success in every case concluded to date. Proceeds from the sale of forfeited assets go into a special account that is used, in part, to compensate victims of unlawful activity and help prevent or remedy the effects of crime.

The grant application form can be found here:

www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crimeprevention/grants/index.htm

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
250 356-6961