Twenty-one police and community projects are getting some big bucks to prevent youth crime.

The Youth Action Plan is getting the money from assets seized by police in criminal investigations.

Overall, the youth crime rate in Ontario is 23 percent lower compared to 2000.

The government hopes the $20-million for this initiative will benefit an additional 13,000 young people.

The projects will help identify at risk youth to combat bullying and prevent violent crime.

The grant money comes from assets seized during criminal investigations.

The funding will go to Police Services and Toronto Police acting deputy chief Kimberley Greenwood said the money will help.

“We have numeous programs in place and if you’ll recall we had the Project Summer Safety this summer with increased police awareness on our streets and in our communities,” she explained.

The summer program put additional officers on the streets of Toronto in the wake of the Danzig shooting.

The plan helps identify at-risk youth while providing active community liasons to combat bullying and prevent violent crime.