Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Wednesday introduced the bipartisan Investing in Neighborhood-focused, Vital, Evidence-based Strategies and Trust (INVEST) to Prevent Crime Act of 2016. The INVEST to Prevent Crime Act would authorize grants to local communities as part of the effort to reduce crime, building on an existing federal program. The grants would support bringing local law enforcement, community leaders, stakeholders, and residents together to craft local solutions to the specific causes of crime in their area.
Donnelly said, “The best results to combatting persistent crime come from engaging both the people who live in communities and those tasked to protect them. This bipartisan legislation would support that approach and will help communities across Indiana and our country make life safer for their residents and businesses.”
Graham said, “This bill will help bring law enforcement and community and business leaders to the table to develop strategies to reduce specific drivers of crime in their communities. The grant program enables these communities to revitalize some of their most challenging neighborhoods while improving relationships between police and the citizens they serve.”
The INVEST to Prevent Crime Act would extend and enhance a targeted program modeled from the promising Department of Justice (DOJ) initiative, the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program (BCJI), to help with planning and implementation of evidence-based strategies to reduce and prevent crime as part of community revitalization efforts. Indiana has two communities currently participating in the BCJI initiative: Indianapolis and Evansville
