CSAC would like to share that the Board of State and Community
Corrections (BSCC) is launching two new grants that address
organized retail theft (ORT):
1) the ORT
Prevention Grant Program, which allocates $242 million for
California police departments, sheriff’s departments, and
probation departments to fund retail, vehicle, and cargo theft
prevention and response activities, and
2) the
ORT Vertical Prosecution Grant Program, which allocates $11.4
million for California district attorneys to address increased
levels of retail theft and property crimes by using a vertical
prosecution model.
Applications to the ORT Prevention and Vertical Prosecution Grant
Programs are due to BSCC by July 7, 2023, and
interest in these grants is very high; to date, BSCC has received
notices from more than 80 law enforcement agencies that intend to
apply. The next step in the process is to convene a Scoring
Panel, to read and score the proposals. The BSCC is
asking for your assistance in enlisting individuals from your
member agencies to assist with this effort, preferably
individuals with knowledge of, or experience in, retail theft
operations or prosecutions.
Please note, a prospective Scoring Panel member may not work for
an agency that is applying for grant funds. So prospective
scoring panel members should confirm that their employer is not
applying for the grant before contacting BSCC.
With the high number of proposals expected to come in, BSCC is
looking to recruit a minimum of 16 individuals, so that the grant
funds can get out the door and to local agencies as quickly as
possible. The more people recruited, the fewer proposals each
person will have to read and the faster they can get through the
process.
Individuals interested in serving on the ORT Grants Scoring Panel
should be prepared to attend a minimum of two (2) half-day online
meetings, via Zoom, on how to use BSCC’s scoring criteria and
rating system. Individuals will then read and score proposals on
their own time. If needed, additional meetings may be scheduled
to ensure key activities are completed.
For more information, click
here. Interested individuals can also request more
information at ORT@bscc.ca.gov. We are asking for
your assistance in sharing information about this important
opportunity with your constituents and on your list servs. As
always, thank you for your consideration and continued
partnership. If you have questions, please contact BSCC Deputy
Director Colleen Curtin at colleen.curtin@bscc.ca.gov.
