What is the Drug Forfeiture Community Reinvestment Program?
- The program allocates the proceeds of drug crime seizures to youth-focused community programs in Worcester County through a careful grant application process. The drug forfeiture and seized fund processes are governed by G.L. c. 94C § 47.
- Through this program, funds that once facilitated the flow of narcotics and crime within Worcester County, become the tools of education and crime prevention.
How does the Drug Forfeiture Community Reinvestment Program help Worcester County?
- The program expands opportunities for local students from lower income families to be engaged in activities that will boost their self-esteem, keep them active and provide them with positive role models.
- These school programs are effective in preventing crime because they provide opportunities for at-risk youth during the hours they are most likely to commit offenses and guide them toward a better path by teaching self-esteem, discipline, teamwork, and providing strong mentors and role models.
After-School Activities Have a Positive Affect on Our Youth’s Lives
- The Department of Justice identified several risk factors, including low socio-economic status, poor performance in school and lack of positive influences, which, if present during an individual’s early adolescence, increase the likelihood of that person becoming involved in the criminal justice system.
- The programs approved for grants through the Drug Forfeiture Community Reinvestment Program provide what the Department of Justice refers to as a buffer, which may mitigate or reverse these risks.
Preventing Youth Crimes in Worcester Has Been Working
- District Attorney Early’s philosophy of attacking crime at its infancy through positive prevention efforts has had a marked impact on countless youth in Worcester County. District Attorney Early has contributed more than $1.3 million to youth initiatives as of 2021. As a result, juvenile delinquency rates in Worcester County have decreased 78 percent since 2007.
A Sampling of Programs Funded by Forfeited Monies in Worcester County
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Fitchburg & Leominster
- Boys & Girls Club of Webster/Dudley
- Boys & Girls Club of Worcester
- Creative Community Childcare
- Dismas House
- Doherty Memorial High School Football
- Ethiopian Dream Center
- Fitchburg Board of Health
- Fresh Start 508
- Fuller Field Commission
- Juvenile Court Art Program
- Learn to Cope
- Leominster High School
- Lou Gehrig Little League
- LUK, Inc.
- Mass Audubon
- McClain’s Training Method
- MENtour
- Milford Youth Center
- National Night Out
- New England Chapter of the OCA
- Sober In The Sun, Presented By Sand Stew Inc.
- Southbridge Cops-N-Kids
- Southbridge Police Department
- South County Drug Task Force
- Tenacity
- Wachusett High School
- Webster Little League
- Worcester Art Museum
- Worcester Jewish Community Center
- Worcester Latino Dollars for Scholars
- Yes We Care
- You, Inc.
Click here for a full list of our Drug Forfeiture Community Reinvestment Program history.
Drug Forfeiture Community Reinvestment grants are awarded through an application process with all requests reviewed by committee, which then forwards a recommendation to the District Attorney.
Please note, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our funds are very limited. While we are still accepting applications, please understand that our ability to provide funding will be limited.
We are continuing to provide labor resources where requesters can supply materials. Our Diversion Unit has been working at food pantries, kitchens, playgrounds and fields during the pandemic and we will continue to fulfill as many of these labor requests as possible.
Click here for the funds request application.
Please mail the completed application to:
Worcester County District Attorney’s Office
225 Main St., Room G-301, Worcester, MA 01608
To schedule a presentation for you school or community group, call ADA Don Xenos at (508) 755-8601.