Central Florida Community Justice Coalition

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 Seminole County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) applied for funding under Category 1: Targeting Violent Crime. They will purchase equipment and fund overtime hours for probation and law enforcement officers in the county. SCSO has partnered with law enforcement agencies in Orange, Seminole and Volusia Counties, as well as, the Florida Department of Corrections, Seminole County Probation, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Office of the State Attorney the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the judiciary, to create the Central Florida Community Justice Coalition (CFCJC). CFCJC is a mechanism for justice agencies to share investigative information, and develop collaborate enforcement efforts to target violent crime in those counties.

CA/NCF