BOSTON, June 17, 2014—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.

“The tens of thousands of dollars we donate through this program each year allow non-profits to continue their important work with young people,” Conley said.  “By offering positive role models and activities that engage kids and teens in the community, these organizations help prosecutors and community leaders achieve our goal of keeping kids and teens away from gangs, drugs, and violence.”

Award recipients are selected each year by an independent panel of county residents 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/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 Aug. 22.

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 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: state auditors last year reviewed the process in Suffolk County and gave it high marks for turning “the profits of crime into something positive for the community” while carefully documenting all forfeiture-related income and expenditures.

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