(ATLANTA) – The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) has been awarded $1,250,000 in the Fiscal Year 2025 State of Georgia budget for the competitive Gang Activity Prosecution Grant (GAP Grant). This funding will support enhanced efforts to prosecute gang-related activities and bolster community safety initiatives.

The GAP Grant applications were open to law enforcement agencies, prosecuting attorneys, and nonprofits primarily focused on gang prosecutions in the State of Georgia. The applications had to show a commitment to successful prosecutions of gang activity. GEMA/HS received 38 submissions between the July 16 – August 29, 2024 application window totaling $2,575,240.

“Gang activity affects every corner of Georgia—urban, suburban, and rural communities alike—and poses a serious threat to public safety, health, education, and the fabric of our neighborhoods,” said GEMA/HS Director Chris Stallings. “We are proud to provide much-needed resources to support Georgia’s prosecuting attorneys and law enforcement agencies in their critical work to protect our citizens. This initiative would not be possible without the steadfast leadership of Governor Kemp and the dedicated efforts of our elected officials in the State House and Senate.”

Award letters are being sent to the below selected organizations with full award details. After a careful and thorough evaluation process, GEMA/HS has selected the following applicants and their partner agencies as recipients of the FY25 GAP Grant:

  • Bibb County Sheriff’s Office
  • Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office (District Attorney, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office)
  • Burke County Sheriff's Office
  • Calhoun Police Department
  • City of Marietta Police Department
  • Columbus Police Department
  • Cordele Judicial Circuit (Fitzgerald Police Department; Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office)
  • Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office
  • Crisp County Sheriff’s Office
  • Dekalb County Police Department
  • Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office
  • Dublin Judicial Circuit (Dublin Police Department, Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Treutlen County Sheriff’s Office, Twiggs County Sherriff’s Office, Dublin District Attorney’s Office, East Dublin Police Department)
  • Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
  • Eastman Police Department
  • Effingham County Sheriff’s Office
  • Rome Judicial District (Floyd County District Attorney, Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, Floyd County Police Department, Rome Police Department)
  • Georgia Gang Investigators Association
  • Gwinnett County Judicial Circuit (Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office, Gwinnett County Police Department, Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, Duluth Police Department, Lawrenceville Police Department, Lilburn Police Department, Norcross Police Department, Snellville Police Department, Suwanee Police Department)
  • Henry County Police Department
  • Henry County Sheriff’s Office
  • Middle Judicial Circuit and Middle Circuit Sheriffs
  • Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office
  • Newton County Sheriff's Office
  • Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office (Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, Statesboro Police Department, Ogeechee Circuit District Attorney)
  • Paulding Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office (Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Dallas Police Department, Hiram Police Department)
  • Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office
  • Rockmart Police Department
  • Stephens County Sheriff’s Office
  • Thomas County Sheriff’s Office
  • Tifton Police Department
  • Upson County Sheriff's Office
  • Waycross Police Department
  • Western Judicial Circuit (Athens Clark County Police Department & Clark County Sheriff's Office)

Interested agencies who missed the application window for the GAP grant may register their interest with GEMA/HS should unused funds become available. For more information about Georgia’s Gang Activity Prosecution Grant, please email [email protected] or visit https://gema.georgia.gov/state-and-local-cybersecurity-grant-program.

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As part of the Office of the Governor, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency collaborates with local, state and federal governments in partnership with private sector and non-governmental organizations to protect life and property against man-made and natural emergencies. GEMA/HS’s Ready Georgia website and preparedness campaign provides Georgians with the knowledge needed to effectively prepare for disasters. Go to gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/ready-georgia for information on developing a custom emergency plan and Ready kit.