Congressman Robert Garcia and Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert Announce Federal Grant to Improve Law Enforcement Communication Systems to Better Support Homeless Community
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) and Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert announced that the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a $350,000 grant to the Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office (LBCPO) to improve communication and information sharing between law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices to better support people experiencing homelessness, mental health, and substance issues in Long Beach.
“Homelessness is one of the biggest challenges facing Long Beach, and we need to effectively develop comprehensive solutions,” said Congressman Garcia. This grant will give officers the tools needed to guide people away from the criminal justice system and toward resources like shelters and service providers.”
“We are grateful to the Department of Justice for this Smart Prosecution grant, and to Congressman Garcia for supporting new technology that improves public safety. This kind of collaboration is key to combating homelessness compassionately and effectively,” said Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert. “Long Beach has been a leader in criminal justice innovation and the GUIDES app is a great example. We partnered with Laserfiche, a Long Beach-based company, and the Long Beach Police Department to create this powerful tool. Working together, I believe we can leverage technology to improve the lives of people experiencing homelessness by getting them off the streets and into treatment programs.”
The Innovative Prosecutor Solutions grant will provide resources to improve communication between police and prosecutors in Los Angeles County. This will help deliver justice more effectively, especially for marginalized communities. With better access to mental health services and diversion programs, people can get the support they need instead of getting caught up in the criminal justice system.
Congressman Garcia remains committed to supporting efforts to assist individuals who are housing insecure. Last year, Congressman Garcia secured over $5 million in federal funding to address homelessness among people in Long Beach for housing and supportive services. Congressman Garcia remains committed to introducing action to protect and uplift marginalized communities effectively and with compassion. In October, Congressman Garcia introduced a bill to establish Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) as a stand-alone agency, allowing HSI to focus on public safety, law enforcement, and national security missions, and improve oversight and accountability within Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
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