Durbin Announces a More Than $2 Million Investment in Illinois Community Safety Initiatives

Press Release

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a total of $2,049,506 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois.

"Today's funding represents an important investment in the Illinois justice system and victims' services programs." said Durbin. "These initiatives will help promote the fair and cost-effective administration of justice and will help provide vital assistance and legal representation to those who have been the victims of crimes."

Under this announcement, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission in Deerfield, Illinois, was awarded $38,308 in funding through the Department of Justice's John R. Justice student loan repayment program. The funding, administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, will be used to help prosecutor and public defender offices retain and attract talented attorneys by providing student loan repayment assistance to state and federal public defenders and state prosecutors who agree to remain in their positions for at least three years. The program was created by legislation that Durbin first introduced in 2003 and that was passed into law as part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008.

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