Each year, the Suffolk DA’s office provides tens of thousands of dollars in free cash awards to non-profit groups that keep Suffolk County’s kids and teens away from guns, gangs, and violent crime.  The funds represent a portion of assets seized from drug traffickers during the previous year and provides the District Attorney with an opportunity to fund youth programs in Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop that have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and that work to keep young people off drugs and out of trouble.Massachusetts law allows up to 10% of drug dealers’ cash and assets seized annually to be used to benefit nonprofit community groups within the district attorney’s jurisdiction.  The amount of money varies yearly and is shared by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police, and local law enforcement agencies.

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 reviewed the process in 2013 and gave  the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office high marks for turning “the profits of crime into something positive for the community” while carefully documenting all forfeiture-related income and expenditures.

Check back soon for the FY2019 Community Reinvestment Grant application packet.

Answers to frequently asked questions about the Community Reinvestment Grant application process and eligibility can be found here.