St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program, administered by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP's) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), furthers the Department's mission by assisting state and local jurisdictions in improving the criminal justice system and assisting communities in preventing drug abuse and crime. In fiscal year 2007, the Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program will focus on funding local, regional, and national efforts within six major categories: 1) targeting violent crime; 2) preventing crime and drug abuse; 3) enhancing local law enforcement; 4) enhancing local courts; 5) enhancing local corrections and offender reentry; and 6) facilitating justice information sharing. All categories combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime.

St. Joseph County will use the award to assist in reducing the time it takes to process a crime scene, which will enhance the investigations by allowing officials to document, collect, and process evidence in a more efficient manner. The goal of the project is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the homicide crime scene investigations. Grant funds will be used to purchase a new crime scene vehicle, generator, and crime scene lighting.
CA/NCF