Springfield's "Take Back the Streets" 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 Springfield Police Department will utilize fiscal year 2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Category I Targeting Violent Crime funds to support the Take Back the Streets Initiative, which focuses disrupting gang activity at targeted sites in Springfield and working with residents to restore a sense of safety and security to their neighborhoods. The grant funds will be used to pay overtime costs for officers assigned to the Uniform Division, Street Crimes Unit, Narcotics Bureau, Crime Analysis Unit, and the Detective Bureau.

CA/NCF