MONTGOMERY— Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $50,000 grant to support an organization that helps wayward children turn their lives around and avoid the criminal justice system in Morgan County.

The Morgan County System of Services will use grant funds to help youth offenders avoid further involvement in the juvenile justice system. The community-based resource, working with the Morgan County Juvenile Court, will focus on juveniles who have committed crimes for which they’ve been ordered removed from their homes and into foster or other types of living arrangements. Officials said the goal is to help participants learn from their experiences in productive ways so they can return to their communities while lowering their risk of recidivism.

“Juvenile offenders should be given a chance to get their lives back on track instead of falling into a permanent cycle of encounters with the justice system,” Gov. Ivey said. “I commend the Morgan County SOS for working to help these children find a better way forward.”

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Justice. ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, infrastructure upgrades, recreation, energy conservation, water resource management, job training and career development.

“Gov. Ivey desires to help the youth of our state reach their potential while trying to avoid becoming wrapped up in the juvenile justice system,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA’s partnership with the Morgan County System of Services will ensure that this program continues to help youthful offenders turn their lives around and become more productive members of society.”   

Gov. Ivey notified Nate Allen, Morgan County System of Services chairman, that the grant had been approved.

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Contact: Russell Sellers, Mike Presley