Grand Rapids 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 City of Grand Rapids will utilize its Fiscal Year 2007 Byrne Discretionary Category 1: Targeting Violent Crime grant funds for their Grand Rapids Violent Crime Initiative. This initiative is a multi-pronged approach to address violent crime in the City of Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids Violent Crime Initiative will be implemented in coordination with the Michigan State Police, Kent County Sheriff's Department, other law enforcement agencies in the County, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Agency. The primary objectives of this initiative are to increase information technology and crime analysis capabilities, expand enforcement and crime prevention efforts, while increasing regional data sharing capabilities.

CA/NCF