The Province is now accepting applications for civil forfeiture grant funding to support programs aimed at addressing violence against women and reducing youth involvement in crime.
Applications will be accepted until Jan. 7, 2015, and all grants will be awarded by March 31, 2015. Grants are issued through a fair and transparent process that gives consideration to various criteria, including some specialized to each category.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton stated, “Our civil forfeiture program continues to undermine the profit motive of unlawful activity and support efforts to prevent crime and protect the vulnerable. This grant funding will combat the crime of violence against women and other crimes in B.C. communities by offering financial support to many community-based programs that can make a difference in the lives of thousands of British Columbians.”
As the Province continues to work towards a Violence Free BC, the 2015 grant categories will include preventing, responding to, and rebuilding from the impacts of violence against women.
Grant categories are also available for youth and community crime prevention.
To find out more about how to make a grant submission, visit: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crimeprevention/grants
Since the Civil Forfeiture Office became active in 2006, it has returned more than $16 million from successful forfeiture actions in the form of grants to crime prevention programs, victim service programs and victims of fraud and phony investment schemes.
In March 2014, government provided over $5 million in civil forfeiture proceeds to take action on the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry recommendations and support the prevention of violence against women and youth crime prevention initiatives.