Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2024, $648,074)
The Law Enforcement Planning Commission State Administrative Agency (SAA) for the U.S. Virgin Islands catalyzes planned and balanced federally funded programs, advising the Governor during the formulation of policies, laws, plans, and programs, encouraging private/public partnerships in addressing crime and violence in the territory, ensure the availability and dissemination of information and data generated by the Commission for policy and plan development and provide technical support to all entities to ensure compliance with all requirements of the federal funding and ensure the availability of timely and accurate statistical indices that are required to make informed applications.
The purpose of the project is to improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of criminal justice systems, processes, and procedures through enhanced training, innovative technology enhancement for prosecuting crime, youth mentoring and gang intervention, and illegal gun enterprise. (2) Reduce all crime and violence in the Virgin Islands by a significant level. (3) Increase information sharing between agencies, stakeholders, and the community.
All programs funded have implemented projects that have impacted crime and delinquency as well as enhanced the effectiveness and efficiency of the criminal justice system. The expected outcomes are as follows to improved criminal justice system that addresses the rate of crime and violence, provides updated training and resources for law enforcement officers, prosecutors, correction personnel, and community partners, and reduction in juvenile violent crime and delinquency through mentoring and intervention programs, development of a comprehensive criminal justice strategy for the U.S. Virgin Islands and enhance public and community engagement and with the rate of violent crime and crimes against persons and property in the Virgin Islands has highlighted the need for additional resources to continue affecting significant positive changes in the criminal justice system.
The 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant JAG funds will coordinate with state and related justice funds to criminal justice agencies, local government agencies, faith-based organizations, and non-profit organizations to address the causes and consequences of crime in the Virgin Islands. The funds will be earmarked for crime prevention initiatives, prevention after-school programs, enhanced equipment for law enforcement, patrol vehicles, contractual support, technical assistance, information systems for criminal justice, and civil proceedings, increased personnel, ongoing training programs (on and off-island), rehabilitation/treatment, and general operations to include the administrative cost in an effort aimed at improving the territorial Criminal Justice System. The mission of the Law Enforcement Planning Commission is to ensure the Virgin Islands’ federal resources are effectively used for the benefit of present and future generations by ensuring consistency among various plans, policies, and programs.