Gang Reduction Interagency Partnership

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 Lee County Sheriff's Office will fund their Gang Reduction Interagency Partnership under Category 1: Targeting Violent Crime. The Gang Reduction Interagency Partnership will work with Southwest Florida law enforcement agencies to infiltrate neighborhoods experiencing gang crime activities through intelligence gathering, surveillance and law enforcement operations. They will also train frontline law enforcement deputies to recognize gang related activities, and provide supplemental to multi-jurisdictional enforcement operations. The Lee County Sheriff's Office will purchase surveillance equipment and pay overtime hours for police officers.

CA/NCF