MORE CIVIL FORFEITURE CASH SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES

VICTORIA – Ongoing civil forfeiture successes mean communities across B.C. are receiving an extra $750,000 in support of crime prevention and victim service programs this year alone, including $200,000 for one-time grants announced today by Solicitor General John van Dongen. “This is extra support for targeted, local projects, over and above the 53 per cent increase in this year’s provincial budget for services to victims of crime,” said van Dongen. “Our civil forfeiture successes continue to enable us to provide one-time funding for projects that get to the heart of local crime issues and victims’ needs.” The Province launched the funding program last February with $500,000 to help prevent and address the effects of crime. In April, 27 applicants received up to $20,000 each toward projects focused on such goals as domestic violence and cyber-bullying prevention, restorative justice and helping at-risk children return to school. Last summer, another $50,000 from civil forfeiture went to support “con air” programs in Vancouver and Victoria, which return individuals to other jurisdictions where they face charges.Van Dongen noted the Province’s 2.5-year-old civil forfeiture legislation is removing the profit motive from unlawful activity and then building on that success by turning the dividends into a crime-fighting force in B.C. communities.

“Our youth outreach theatre project for schools has taken an innovative approach to issues like drugs, bullying, conflict and building communications skills,” said Geanine Robey of the Victoria Restorative Justice Society, which received a grant last spring. “It’s also helped us to further engage Victoria Police officers in restorative justice as an alternative when they’re dealing with youth crime.” “The grant last spring helped us respond to community needs and emerging crime and safety issues,” said John Sakamoto Kramer, co-ordinator, Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre. “We offered programming and mentoring for Aboriginal youth in East Vancouver, including cultural teachings related to canoe-building and drum-making. We also were able to fund an anti-graffiti program and outreach in several high-crime areas.”

As in February, local governments, community and youth organizations, school districts, police departments, victim service programs, Aboriginal organizations and First Nations bands may apply for a share of the funding. Interested communities and organizations are invited to contact the ministry’s Victim Services and Crime Prevention Division at 604-660-2916. The deadline for applications is Jan. 16, 2009.

Since B.C.’s civil forfeiture legislation came into force in April 2006, the Province has seen 54 cases completed, $5.25 million forfeited and more than $1.3 million made available for victim compensation and crime prevention grants. A two-year report on the success of the civil forfeiture program is available at www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/publications online.