Norwich and New London are among 22 Connecticut cities that will share $915,000 in federal grant money to help prevent and reduce violent crime, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced Thursday.

Norwich and New London each will receive $42,000 in the program.

The money is being distributed to the 22 local governments with the highest volume of violent crime from 2007 through 2009 to be used for crime prevention, community education, youth crime intervention, law enforcement patrol, surveillance, investigation and apprehension, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, contractual support, technology and information systems.

Together, the 22 municipalities account for 82 percent of Connecticut's violent crime and 75 percent of the inmates in the Department of Correction.

"Funding will be used to help sustain law enforcement and public safety services, particularly during the summer months when these critical public safety initiatives are needed most," Malloy said.

Funding is from the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) Local Pass Through Justice Assistance Formula Grants.