Amata Highlights DOJ Grant for CJPA Substance Abuse Program

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is welcoming notice of a grant of $58,578 from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for the American Samoa Criminal Justice Planning Agency (CJPA).

"Thank you to the Criminal Justice Planning Agency, and in this effort Dr. Celestine Faumuina-Nix, as they work together to reduce substance abuse in our islands," said Congresswoman Aumua Amata.

These initial, discretionary funds through the Office of Justice Programs and Bureau of Justice Assistance are for residential substance abuse treatment for the incarcerated. The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) funding is to establish and strengthen substance use treatment services for individuals housed within the correctional facility. The RSAT program's purpose is to break the cycle of drug use, crime, and recidivism, so the project will focus on individuals in pre-trial and sentence status who have substance use disorders or substance abuse related treatment needs. RSAT funding will be used for counseling eligible pre-trial detainees, and substance use screening and testing services with the American Samoa Department of Health, followed by structured substance abuse treatment programming and recovery support services.

###