The Saskatchewan government has pledged over $532,000 to police agencies and community-based organizations to develop new tools and programs to address crime and support victims of crime in the province.
The new funding is being provided through the Civil Forfeiture Program, which seizes property consider to be proceeds or an instrument of unlawful activity and deposits the funds into the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund.
Police forces will receive $180,000 of the funding, with a matching amount deposited into Victims’ Fund. Another $170,000 will be distributed between several community-based organizations.
Moose Jaw will be receiving $18,974 to support the development of a sexual assault centre in Moose Jaw, a pilot project announced by the Regina Sexual Assault Centre in January.
Moose Jaw Partners Against Violence will also be receiving $25,000 to develop a crystal meth awareness strategy in the city, which will aim to act as a preventative measure and inform students, parents and the public about the dangers and effects of crystal meth.
Other programs receiving funding include:
- the RCMP “F” Division Youth Advisory Committee for supplies to enhance the youth program;
- Saskatoon Police Service for the development of a youth anti-gang initiative;
- Weyburn Police Service for a cyanoacrylate fuming chamber to improve fingerprint identification;
- Prince Albert Police Service for a 3D laser scanner to improve analyzation of crime scenes;
- Parkland Victims Services for the purchase of wearable safety alert devices for individuals at high-risk of violence or abuse;
- Piwapan Women’s Centre for the domestic violence program in Lac La Ronge;
- and the Lac La Ronge Friendship Centre for the creation of a women’s wellness retreat for victims of trauma.
“Saskatchewan police services continue to invest in community safety and well-being through partnerships, innovation and collaboration,” said Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police and Moose Jaw Police chief Rick Bourassa, in a press release. “This additional funding provides even greater opportunities for all of us to share in building safer, more harmonious and more inclusive communities.”
