U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved his request for $3.15 million in federal funding for crime fighting projects and youth crime prevention initiatives in Minnesota. Sen. Franken requested that the funds be appropriated in the fiscal year 2011 Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee Appropriations bill. The Senator's funding request will now move to the full Senate for approval.

"To ensure Minnesota's public safety we must tackle the problem of crime on two fronts," said Sen. Franken. "We need to make sure that our law enforcement officials have the resources they need to be effective. Also, we need to put programs in place that educate Minnesota's troubled youth on how to make good life choices. The approval of the Senate Appropriations Committee is a critical step in the process of securing these federal funds to achieve our goal of a safe Minnesota."

The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the following projects:

• Dakota County Criminal Justice Integration Information Network Enhancements: $600,000 to create new programs to allow law enforcement personnel to acquire information, analyze crime, implement automated license plate recognition, and to allow citizens to report crime online.
• St. Louis County Public Safety Interoperability for Law Enforcement: $500,000 to buy portable and mobile radios to meet the FCC's regulation of making all public safety radio frequencies narrowband compliant. This project will help improve interoperability between first responder agencies and would improve public safety.
• City of Duluth Forensic Technology Task Force Project: $175,000 to acquire equipment and resources to investigate and prosecute Internet Crimes Against Children.
• Native American Law Enforcement Summit Indian Crime Awareness Research and Evaluation: $375,000 to assist Minnesota Indian tribes in collecting, analyzing, and sharing crime data. This program will reduce crime, enhance community quality of life, and encourage business growth in Minnesota tribes and surrounding communities.
• Ramsey County Young Adult Offender Transitions Project: $200,000 to provide transitional services to young adults being released from incarceration. This mental-health treatment, housing advocacy and placement, employment training, and connection to community agencies will help prevent these young adults from re-offending.
• Winona State University National Child Protection Training Center: $500,000 to fund the National Child Protection Training Center, which assists universities in training future child protection professionals. These funds will contribute to the training of prosecutors and other professionals who respond to child abuse cases.
• White Earth Court Team for Maltreated Infants and Toddlers: $200,000 to fund a Court Team to work with abused and neglected infants within the White Earth Band of Ojibwe. This court team will make recommendations to protect the health and welfare of children, which will improve their development and outcomes both immediately and over time.
• Bolder Options Rochester Expansion: $100,000 to assist in expanding this successful youth mentoring program to Rochester.
• Radio Consoles for Sherriff's 9-1-1 Dispatch Center in Hennepin County: $500,000 to acquire radios that will enable the County, which provides dispatch to 36 communities and more than 1.2 million people, to continue important dispatch services.