Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced today that Napa Special Investigations Bureau (NSIB) has invested $10,000 of asset forfeiture funds back into the Napa community by way of gift to the non-profit, If Given a Chance (IGAC.)
NSIB is an investigative collaboration made up of team members from the Napa Sheriff’s Department, Napa Police Department, Napa County Probation, California Highway Patrol, St Helena Police Department, Calistoga Police Department and the Napa County District Attorney’s Office.
Asset forfeitures occur when the police take a person’s property because the property was used in committing a crime or was obtained by way of criminal activity. This property can include secured assets like a house or boat or can include money found in association with organized crime. Funds derived from asset forfeiture can be used for investigative expenses or invested back into the communities they came from, as is the case here.
If Given a Chance is a local nonprofit that identifies Napa County youth who have faced significant hardship and demonstrated resilience and promise as they seek to pursue a post-high school education or job trade. Award recipients receive personalized school counseling, mentoring in their professional interest areas and financial support as they seek post-high school training or formalized education.
Recipients of the services of If Given A Chance are 87% students of color and many have histories that include the effects of poverty, challenges with immigration, intersection with the criminal justice system, foster care system, or suffer from familial addiction or mental health challenges.
“By investing these funds directly back into our Napa County youth, we are investing in the future of our community. It demonstrates not only our commitment to the health and vitality of Napa County but our recognition of the moral imperative to identify, recognize and assist those members of our community who need support. There is little more satisfying than to transform money gotten through criminal means into the financial safety net to buttress the efforts of the next generation of leaders here in the Napa Valley” said Napa County Sheriff John Robertson.
If Given a Chance will introduce viewers to this year’s award recipients on May 24, 2021, at their 26th Annual Awards Evening. Registration links can be found at ifgivenachance.org
