Prince George, B.C. – The provincial government is going to take some money collected through B.C.’s civil forfeiture program and funnel it into projects focused on ending violence against women and preventing crime.

The government says that in advance of Prevention of Violence Against Women Week (April 12-18, 2015) it is putting the Vision for a Violence Free BC strategy into action and investing $5 million into those projects.  More than 220 grants have been provided to groups throughout the province for initiatives that address violence against women, support youth and community crime prevention, support victims through restorative justice programs, and include police education, training and specialized crime prevention equipment.

The projects will reach women who have experienced violence, Aboriginal youth in isolated communities, educators, students, service providers, and restorative justice practitioners.

Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton says “This year’s civil forfeiture funding is allowing us to support leaders in the community to implement innovative projects that will reach British Columbians in all regions – strengthening and supporting our long-term goal of achieving a violence-free B.C.

“We know these funds make a real difference for real people, and that they’re effective in putting a dent in crime in B.C. We must – and we will – continue offering these kinds of grants in the coming years to support the community organizations that deliver these critical services as we work towards protecting women in our province from all forms of violence.”