Madison committee approves $60,000 juvenile-justice Title II grant for youth violence-prevention programs

The Madison Finance Committee on May 12 unanimously approved legislation 88123, amending the police department’s operating budget to accept a $60,000 juvenile-justice Title II grant from the State of Wisconsin Department of Justice. The grant will provide pass-through funding to community partners and additional funding for police overtime and benefits for the Madison Community Healing Through Support and Education Initiative.

Committee members and police staff said the funding is intended to expand violence-prevention services for juveniles who are system-involved or at risk. Assistant Chief Filanta, who presented the grant to the committee, said the program is aimed at reaching people affected by community violence who may not be direct victims or witnesses but who suffer vicarious trauma.…