BOSTON, Oct. 20, 2015—Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley today invited non-profit organizations that work with kids and teens to apply for his annual series of cash awards that provide the young people of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop with constructive alternatives to crime and drug use.

The annual funds, which total $50,000 this year, are disbursed from Conley’s Asset Forfeiture Community Reinvestment Program. The program takes cash and assets seized in drug trafficking prosecutions and awards them to non-profit organizations that help Suffolk County’s young people avoid drugs, gangs, and other risky activity.

State law allows up to 10 percent of money from the auctions of dealers’ property and confiscated funds to be returned to the community. Under Conley’s leadership, the Suffolk County Asset Forfeiture Community Reinvestment Program has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in seized drug money to dozens of youth groups, community centers, and social service agencies at no cost to taxpayers.

Last year alone, Conley presented cash awards ranging from $2,500 to $7,500 to 18 non-profits serving youth across Suffolk County.

“This program allows us to take money that would otherwise have been used by traffickers to funnel drugs into our communities and instead use those resources to steer young people away from dangerous behavior and negative choices,” Conley said.  “As we find ourselves battling an opiate epidemic across Suffolk County and Massachusetts, I cannot overstate the role of our non-profit partners in helping young people avoid drugs and the scourge of violence that they bring upon our communities.  The tens of thousands of dollars we donate through this program each year allow these organizations to continue their important work serving Suffolk County’s youth.”

Award recipients are selected each year by an independent panel of community representatives appointed by the district attorney. Non-profit organizations that wish to apply for one of this year’s awards may download an application from http://www.suffolkdistrictattorney.com/partnerships-and-prevention/asset-forfeiture-reinvestment-program/. Inquiries should be directed to Tanya Brussa-Pagan, Director of Community Relations, at 617-619-4163 or Tanya.Brussa-Pagan@massmail.state.ma.us. Completed applications must be emailed to her no later than 5 p.m. on Nov. 13.

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