JAG 2024 Local Application for Michigan Communities - Canton, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Ecorse, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Inkster, Lincoln Park, Livonia, Redford, Romulus, Taylor, Westland

The four-year strategic plan for the expenditure of JAG funds is to prioritize funding in the JAG Program areas of Prevention and Prosecution of Hate Crimes, Election Security, Enhancing Justice System Reform Strategies, Advancing Equity and support for Underserved Communities and Violent Crime Reductions of Hate Crimes, Program Planning, Evaluation and Technology and Law Enforcement. With little or no local funding available for these purchases, the JAG grant will afford communities much needed equipment that otherwise are unable to be deployed. In the past four years of funding, most of the dollars were allocated to planning, evaluation and technology programs, with the vast majority of those funds spent on technology or equipment.
As a disparate county, the County of Wayne bears more than 50% of the costs of prosecution or incarceration that arise for Part 1 violent crimes reported by the geographically constituent units and certified by the Director of Bureau of Justice Administration. For fiscal year 2023 the County has allocated approximately $151 million for judiciary and approximately $194 million for public safety. The Office of Prosecuting Attorney expenditure rate is $46 million, and Sheriff current expenditure rate is $147 million.
The State of Michigan, the County of Wayne and all local communities are challenged with having sufficient resources to provide adequate law enforcement services. The State’s unemployment rate is 4.3% and the unemployment rate in the City of Detroit is reported at 9.3%. With a still lagging economy, limited job market and escalating cost of living, public safety remains a challenge. Most communities have little or no discretionary funds for the acquisition of technology, investment in court or prosecution programs or funds for planning and/or evaluation of programs currently underway to determine effectiveness. Additionally, many local police departments have been forced to lay off officers and have not recovered full compliments and may not provide for necessary, basic law enforcement equipment. All of these communities have come to rely upon JAG funding to purchase equipment, upgrade technology and attend trainings that are no longer afforded by their respective budgets.
Additional needs for Wayne County include the support reentry projects with the goal of improving outcomes for incarcerated individuals returning to the community from prison or jail. Support public defense systems, including the hiring and retention of attorneys. Support projects related to preventing, detecting, seizing, and/or stopping the presence and use of contraband cellphones within correctional facilities. Support efforts to attract and retain an inclusive, diverse, expert, and accountable law enforcement workforce that reflects the community it serves. Support virtual reality de-escalation training. Purchase humane remote restraint devices that enable law enforcement to restrain an uncooperative subject without inflicting pain. Purchase gunfire detection technology.