Arson prevention initiative announced
The National Arson Prevention Initiative recently announced by President Clinton in response to the recent church burnings will have the Federal Emergency Management Agency work in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to coordinate available federal resources and materials for arson prevention and disseminate them to all states.
Among the components of the Initiative are the following:
Clearinghouse for Arson Prevention Resources. It will serve as the focal point for providing state and local governments with information, guidance, and technical assistance in arson prevention; grants; training; and public education programs and will serve as a registry of resources of available data and publications from private and public sector agencies, research findings, and other sources. Call 1-888-603-3100 or World Wide Web site (http://www.fema.gov).
Arson Prevention Public Education Campaign. Public service announcements are available from the FEMA Radio Network at 1-800-323-5248.
Arson training grants. FEMA has released $774,000 in funding to states for training police, fire, and other personnel in arson prevention, investigation, and prosecution. All states will receive some portion of the funding. Several southeastern states will receive some additional targeted training assistance.
Community-based prevention efforts. Leaders of the major fire service organizations have committed themselves and their memberships to working at the grassroots level within their communities to promote arson prevention. The Corporation for National and Community Service`s AmeriCorps has begun recruiting volunteers to prevent arson. The following resources will be made available for this work:
–The Department of Justice`s existing Problem-Solving Partnership grant program, administered by the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), will assist state and local governments in efforts to prevent church arson. Grants range from $5,000 to $150,000; the average award is $50,000. Up to $40 million in grants will be awarded. Special consideration will be given to organizations that will use these funds to address problems created in their communities by the arson of a religious property.
–Department of Housing and Urban Development crime prevention funding will be available for helping prevent arson or other crimes directed against churches. Public Housing Assistance funds may be used for training residents and staff in the development of place-based crime prevention strategies. Community Development Block Grants can be used to help prevent crime or arson directed against churches.
–The Department of Education will make up to $2 million of Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities National Activities funds available for grants to school districts and community groups for developing and implementing strategies and programs for preventing and responding to hate-related incidents. The department will also help disseminate materials produced by the grantee and host a meeting of school officials to examine hate-related incidents.
Six million dollars will be made available from the Department of Justice through the Bureau of Justice Assistance for communities in 13 targeted southern states to enhance law enforcement, intensify surveillance of churches and other religious properties, hire additional employees, or reimburse overtime expenses.
Additional information may be obtained through the Clearinghouse. Anyone with information that may help in investigating the church arsons is asked to call the Department of the Treasury`s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms at 1-888-ATF-FIRE.
