Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2007, $1,650,000)
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 California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement (BNE) and the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will use this FY 2007 Targeting Violent Crime Initiative award to develop innovative technological expertise to enhance ongoing efforts in addressing violent crimes and suppressing gang activities statewide.
The grant will create two Violent Crime Digital Evidence Recovery Teams, composed of highly trained and specially equipped agents certified to conduct digital forensic evidence recoveries and support investigations of violent crimes, particularly those where gang activity is an element. Overtime funding and consultant support for wiretap surveillance will be critical to the successful provision of timely responses to those local law enforcement agencies requesting services, as well as to ensure sufficient man-hours necessary for the longer-term, in depth investigations and analyses that will result in dismantling gang organizations.
The key component of the grant is portable forensic workstations allocated to the two teams located in the southern and northern portions of the state, which will allow rapid response to the most violent criminal activity, such as homicide, forcible rape, robbery, extortion, and aggravated assault. In addition to the specialized equipment and tools, the agents' knowledge and expertise will be established and sustained by continual education and training specific to the field of digital evidence analysis.
CA/CF