Emmett Till Cold Case Investigations and Prosecution Program

In cooperation and funding provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College provides grantees with training and technical assistance in support of the Emmett Till Cold Case Investigations and Prosecution Program. The Emmett Till Cold Case Investigations and Prosecution Program, launched in FY 2020, provides support to state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors in their investigation and prosecution of cold case murders associated with civil rights violations. Funds are limited to address violations of civil rights statutes resulting in death that occurred no later than December 31, 1979. **History** The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has several programs named in honor of significant individuals and their roles in our nation’s criminal justice system. One of those figures is Emmett Till. Emmett's murder galvanized the nascent civil rights movement and reshaped America. One day in the summer of 1955, when he was only 14 years old, Emmett traveled from his home in Chicago to visit family in Money, Mississippi. During his stay, he visited a store owned by Roy and Carolyn Bryant. After visiting the store, he was accused of whistling at Mrs. Bryant, a white woman. Mrs. Bryant told her husband that Emmett made sexual advances toward her. On a Sunday, four days after Emmett visited the store, Roy and his half-brother, J.W. Milam, kidnapped Emmett at gunpoint from the home of his great-uncle, Mose Wright. He was taken to a barn where he was beaten and finally killed by a gunshot to the head. Emmett’s young body was then tied to a cotton gin fan using barbed wire and thrown into the Tallahatchie River. A few days later, a fisherman found his naked, battered body in the river. **[Read More](http://bja.ojp.gov/news/blog/historical-figures-behind-bureau-justice-assistance-programs-legacy-emmett-till)** **Emmett Till Micro Grants** The Emmett Till Cold Case Investigations and Prosecutions Program is pleased to announce a Micro Grant Opportunity for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies and prosecutor’s offices. Micro Grants will provide financial assistance, up to $100,000 through subaward agreements with the National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College (NCJTC) to organizations committed to building trust and fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve, particularly in investigations involving cold cases, civil rights violations, and hate crimes. For more information, please see click **[HERE.](http://ncjtc.fvtc.edu/resources/RS02400726/emmett-till-cold-case-investigations-and-prosecuti)** Applications can be submitted **[HERE.](http://forms.monday.com/forms/841489742e19549aa12f22ac85834d7b?r=use1)** For questions, please contact: Kristina Mahloch Phone: 920-225-5997 Email: EmmettTillTTA@ncjtc.org