Tester Secures More Than $10.5 Million to Support Montana Law Enforcement, Enhance Public Safety, Assist Crime Victims

Department of Justice funding to target violent crime, support victims of crime

As a part of his continued work to fully fund and equip law enforcement and promote public safety in Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured $10,550,338 in funding to strengthen law enforcement and provide courts, families, and victims of crime with the tools and resources they need. These grants will enhance law enforcement efforts targeting violent crime, aid in investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases, provide support to families affected by crime, and develop programs to address violence against women.

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Tester secured these funds through the 2023 government funding bill. He was the only member of the Montana delegation to support the legislation.

“Montana’s local law enforcement agencies, courts, and crime victim services work tirelessly every day to ensure our communities are safe and families affected by crime are supported – and it’s on us to make sure they have the tools and resources they need to continue protecting our communities,” said Tester. “In our continued fight to boost public safety in Montana, I’m proud to have secured this funding to strengthen law enforcement, crack down on violent crime, and stand with survivors of sexual assault.”

This funding comes from the Department of Justice (DOJ), and have been awarded as follows:

• $549,976 for Lewis & Clark Country to enhance law enforcement and outcomes for individuals with mental health and substance abuse disorders
• $487,564 for the City of Missoula to enhance and expand its Crisis Intervention Team
• $365,166 for the Montana Department of Justice to maintain and expand the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force
• $2,125,000 for Montana Department of Justice for the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) to investigate and prosecute sexual assault cases
• $312,708 to the Montana Bureau of Crime Control to improve in forensic examinations across
• $105,515 to the Montana Bureau of Crime Control for Project Safe Neighborhoods to combat violent crime in Yellowstone and Missoula Counties
• $746,509 to Family First Missoula to enhance alternative justice programs 
• $1,000,000 to Judiciary Courts in the 13^th District to enhance its adult treatment courts, including its DUI Court, STEER, and VTC, CAMO
• $896,372 to the City of Bozeman for DUI Treatment Court
• $896,372 to YWCA Missoula for Justice for Families project to provide legal and other services to underserved communities in western Montana
• $750,000 to Sanders Country Coalition for Families to provide legal assistance to survivors of domestic violence
• $290,906 to the Montana Bureau of Crime Control for substance abuse treatment
• $650,000 for Montana Department of Justice for DNA and forensic services 
• $70,622 to the Montana Bureau of Crime Control to student loan repayment for prosecutors and public defenders
• $1,500,000 for Inspire Action for Social Change Inc. to implement the Inspired Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange technical Assistance Project

Tester is a tireless advocate for increasing funding for police and making sure Montana law enforcement officers have the resources they need to keep communities safe. Earlier this week, Tester also secured $1.3 million in Byrne JAG funding to support drug taskforces as they work to investigate, arrest, and prosecute trafficking of illegal drugs.

He secured more than $1 billion in critical funding for local, state, and federal law enforcement and public safety programs in the 2023 government funding bill. Tester was the only member of the Montana delegation to support the bill, which included $770.8 million for Byrne JAG Funding a $96.3 million increase – in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) omnibus appropriations package.

Additionally, Tester has always led the charge to combat drug trafficking and support law enforcement. Earlier this year, Tester introduced his ANTI Drugs Act. This bipartisan legislation would increase resources for three programs – High Intensity Drug Task Forces (HIDTA), Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), and Operation Stonegarden – that law enforcement rely on to secure the border, stop drug trafficking, and keep communities safe.

Tester also championed the passage of his bipartisan Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act, which he originally introduced in 2017 and 2019 respectively. These bills were signed into law in 2020 and address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis by bolstering data collection and information sharing between Tribes and law enforcement agencies and strengthening violent crime prevention efforts on Tribal lands.