Governor Rick Snyder announced today that criminal justice agencies across the state of Michigan will receive $6.4 million in federal grants to strengthen anti-drug and crime fighting efforts in Michigan.

The funding is made possible through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) Program and the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners (RSAT) Program. 

"Protecting Michigan citizens is a top priority and these grants will go a long way toward combating drug abuse and violence across the state," Snyder said. "This funding will help build stronger communities through increased enforcement, prevention and treatment efforts throughout the criminal justice system."

Byrne JAG funds support all aspects of the criminal justice system, and this year's awards focus on multi-jurisdictional drug task forces, priority population drug courts, data driven approaches to crime and traffic safety, juvenile-focused community policing, community prosecution and high-crime cities prosecution efforts. 

RSAT funds support the development and implementation of residential substance abuse treatment programs in correctional and detention facilities.

Agencies receiving funding have until Sept. 2013, to spend the award. 

A complete list of awarded programs is available at www.michigan.gov/cjgrants.

The Byrne grants are named in honor of New York City Police Department Officer Edward Byrne who was fatally shot by drug traffickers in 1988.