The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994authorized the creation of an intergovernmental grant programwithin the U.S. Department of Justice to fund the hiring andredeployment of 100,000 additional community policingofficers on America's streets. The program that administers thegrants is the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services(COPS).
The Bush Administration's budget for fiscal year 2004 recommendsmajor changes at the U.S. Department of Justice. Among theAdministration's proposals are that hiring grants administered bythe Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) beeliminated in FY 2004 and that overall funding for COPS be reducedto retarget funding for more urgent priorities.
Several schools across Hampton Roads are getting security equipment upgrades through the Virginia Department of Education's School Security Equipment grants. These awards can be used for surveillance equipment, mass notification systems, cameras for buses and more.
The Virginia Department of Education is distributing funds especially to schools with frequent problems, to be used for mass notification systems, security card access systems and surveillance for schools and buses.