DFL Lawmakers Announce Public Safety Plan
Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope) is the chief author of a $100 million public safety proposal that would incorporate funding for community nonprofits to address violence prevention, community policing grants, and crime investigation grants.
The proposal allocates $22 million to go toward Crime Investigation Grants which could be used to hire and retain investigators or purchase equipment to help solve crimes.
“We’re trying to address issues to help us drive down the uptick in crime,” said Rep. Frazier. “That’s specifically focused on an issue that we know is a problem, for dealing with and addressing crimes that we are having right now.”
Frazier joined other DFL lawmakers in a Zoom press conference to introduce the proposal. Republicans are expected to outline their budget priorities this week.
The proposal includes $40 million to go toward Innovation in Community Safety Grants. These grants will be made available to community nonprofit organizations. Grants may be used to fund juvenile diversion efforts, community violence interruption, restorative justice programs, community-based mental health and social service centers, victim services, and more.
“The community safety grants that we’re talking about in this bill will help organizations like A Mother’s Love be successful,” said Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-Golden Valley.) “It will help organizations like A Mother’s Love expand and do more work across the metropolitan area. That kind of partnership between the community and law enforcement, funded by the state will do more to resolve crime more quickly.”
The proposal also includes $22 million toward Local Community Policing Grants, which also support partnerships with community groups for crisis response.
DFL members, which included Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman (DFL, Brooklyn Park), say they will continue to work with police agencies.
The proposal also includes $2.5 million to help law enforcement agencies purchase body-worn cameras and $10 million to fight opiate abuse.
You can read the entire proposal here.
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