Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2007, $1,519,452)
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.
The City of Houston will utilize the 2007 Targeting Violent Crime Reduction Initiative funds to provide overtime for officers from the Houston Police Department's Westside Division and its major investigative divisions to conduct reactive and proactive criminal investigations of Part I violent crimes. The Westside Tactical Unit will continue to work with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in order to file as many federal cases as possible. Officers will utilize recent crime analysis data to identify "serial type" cases and violent crime area "hot spots," and implement law enforcement strategies, such as targeted offender tactics and zero tolerance enforcement.
The Houston Police Department will utilize its Bynre Discretionary Targeting Violent Crime funding to accomplish the following goals : (1) enhance investigations of criminal cases and bring more suspects to justice; (2) refer more criminal cases to the United States Attorney's Office for federal prosecution; (3) conduct more proactive enforcement operations; (4) generate better intelligence on violent crimes perpetrated in the Houston area through investigations, enforcement projects, and crime analysis research; and (5) foster strong community support in troubled areas by increasing police presence and enhancing communication efforts between the police department and the community. Federal funds will cover overtime costs for tactical operations.
CA/NCF