Orange County Sheriff's Office Violent Crime Initiative

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 Orange County Sheriff's Office applied for funding under Category 1: Targeting Violent Crime. In response to the rise in violent crime in Orange County, the Orange County Sheriff's Office has devised the "Violent Crime Initiative." The objectives of the project are to: 1) reduce violent crime through out the county, 2) remove a significant number of guns from the street, and 3) address and improve quality of life issues. The Orange County Sheriff's Office will reduce violent crime through targeted proactive enforcement.

CA/NCF