News release

Community Mobilization Program to Prevent Crime

Justice

Communities across the province are being invited to become actively involved in crime prevention. Federal Justice Minister Anne McLellan, Solicitor General Andy Scott and Nova Scotia Justice Minister Jim Smith announced today that $3.5 million will be made available over the next five years to help Nova Scotian communities prevent crime.

The Community Mobilization Program is part of the National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention announced by the federal government earlier this year. It is designed to help communities develop comprehensive and sustainable approaches to crime prevention, and to undertake activities dealing with the root causes of crime.

"Our crime prevention strategy recognizes that the real experts on preventing crime are the people who live and work in the community," said Ms. McLellan. "They live with the problems and understand their communities' needs and strengths.

"By putting resources into the community, we can take some positive steps to treat the underlying causes of crime, making our homes and our streets safer."

Said Dr. Smith: "We all have a stake in crime prevention. That's why we are looking for community-based solutions that can really stop problems long before they start."

Proposals are being sought from non-profit professional and voluntary groups, community-based coalitions, and groups working with aboriginal communities.

Provincial priorities are focused on children and youth, particularly those efforts that target early intervention to improve the environment in which children live and learn. Priority will also be given to proposals that reflect the restorative justice principles that address the underlying causes of crime, and community development projects that focus on partnerships to address crime prevention over the long term.

These priorities were set through a multi-disciplinary committee made up of representatives of the departments of Justice, Health, Education and Community Services, as well as the Youth Secretariat and the Sport and Recreation Commission.

A total of $718,533 will be made available annually over the next five years. A maximum of $50,000 per project is available to community groups. Proposals will be reviewed by a group of representatives of the federal, provincial and municipal governments along with a representative of crime prevention societies. They will make funding recommendations to the federal government.

Information and application forms are available from the Nova Scotia Department of Justice by phoning 902-424-4149 or 902-424-8946. Deadline for submissions is Sept. 15, 1998.