Gang Activity Prosecution Grant Program

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) is announcing the Gang Activity Prosecution (GAP) Grant Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. This competitive grant program, funded by the State of Georgia with $1,250,000, aims to support state and local efforts in prosecuting gang-related activity. The program's core purpose aligns with GEMA/HS's mission to enhance public safety by reducing gang activity and creating safer communities through effective legal action. The grant period of performance will run from September 19, 2024, to May 15, 2025. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are the citizens of Georgia, who will benefit from reduced gang-related crime and safer communities. The target entities for the grant are State of Georgia law enforcement agencies, prosecuting attorneys, and non-profits specifically focused on gang prosecutions. This includes State Agencies, Judicial District/Circuits, County Sheriffs, and Police Departments. The overarching impact goal is to strengthen the prosecution of gang activity across the state, thereby directly contributing to public safety and order. The program's priorities and focus areas are centered on risk-driven, capabilities-based strategic plans. Successful applicants must clearly articulate how their projects will contribute to creating safer communities through the prosecution of gang activity. This involves identifying and explaining methods to address high-priority needs related to gang activity prosecution, considering how to sustain current capabilities, and addressing potential gaps in the system. The grant emphasizes a holistic, "whole community" approach, encouraging collaboration among government officials, elected leaders, and the broader community to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of these efforts. Expected outcomes and measurable results include an increase in successful gang activity prosecutions throughout Georgia. While specific quantitative metrics for success are not detailed, the emphasis on "clearly identify and explain how their project will assist in creating safer communities by prosecuting gang activity" implies that successful applications will demonstrate a clear pathway to achieving these outcomes. The program implicitly operates under a theory of change where targeted financial support for prosecution efforts will lead directly to a reduction in gang activity, ultimately resulting in a safer environment for all Georgia residents.