Senator Nozzolio Secures $291,000 State Grant For Crime Prevention Programs In Wayne County
Albany— Continuing his aggressive efforts in combating crime, New York State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio today announced that he has secured a $291,000 state grant for anti-crime initiatives in Wayne County. The grant will fund programs to prevent at-risk individuals from committing crimes as well as reduce recidivism among current inmates in the Wayne County Jail.
“As Chairman of the Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee, keeping our streets safe is one of my top priorities,” said Senator Nozzolio. “This funding will be used to keep individuals away from engaging in a life of crime, especially those addicted to drugs and alcohol, making our communities safer.”
“Additionally, these crime-prevention services will be fully funded with this state grant and will help ease the burden on local property taxpayers,” Nozzolio said
The Wayne County Recidivism Reduction and Reentry Program will reduce the overall costs of the Wayne County criminal justice system by identifying client needs early on, facilitating appropriate treatment while charges are pending, achieving community based sentences and laying the foundation for successful transitions back into the community.
Nozzolio also gave credit to local officials for working together to develop this ambitious program, “Board Chairman Jim Hoffmann and his colleagues on the Board of Supervisors deserve credit for working together with Public Defender Ron Valentine to develop this innovative plan to combat crime.”
Wayne County Public Defender Ronald Valentine said, “The significant funding announced today will install programs that provide a progressive and effective approach to crime reduction. Year in and year out, Senator Nozzolio has been our partner and we are extremely fortunate to have him fighting for us in the State Senate. Senator Nozzolio has once again proven that he cares about the residents of Wayne County."
The Finger Lakes Addictions Counseling and Referral Agency (FLACRA) will receive funding to provide addiction services to inmates at the Wayne County Jail, including the hiring of a part-time case manager as wall as a part-time jail addictions counselor.
Marty Teller, Executive Director of the Finger Lakes Addictions Counseling and Referral Agency, said, “FLACRA has had the privilege and pleasure to work with Senator Michael Nozzolio for decades. Without this critical funding announced today, we would have had to make significant cuts to our current services at the Wayne County Jail. In addition to his aggressive support of the Willard Drug Treatment Center, Senator Nozzolio has secured numerous grants for our crisis center and has been a great friend to all working in the field of chemical dependency.”
As part of the funding, the following programs will be initiated:
· An adult diversion program at Wayne Pre-Trial Services, Inc., in Newark. The program would provide intensive counseling and case management;
· Additional individual and group drug and alcohol counseling for incarcerated females in the Wayne County Jail as well as case management services to facilitate inmate re-entry into the community;
· Early entry of assigned counsel on conflict cases through the establishment of an Assigned Counsel Administrator;
· A sentencing specialist in the Wayne County Public Defender’s Office to better inform Judges of client needs and to develop with clients an action plan to address issues that have lead to criminal behavior.
"It was a pleasure to secure this state funding and I commend the Wayne County Public Defender’s Office for their efforts to keep at-risk individuals from committing crimes and FLACRA for their efforts to provide counseling to inmates addicted to drugs and alcohol. Through these programs, we will help prevent crime in Wayne County and make our communities better places in which to live, work and raise a family," Nozzolio concluded.
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