Violent Crime Reduction 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 Albany will utilize its Fiscal year 2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Category I: Targeting Violent Crime funds to address increased gun violence. Specifically, the award will support costs associated with police officer overtime for targeted enforcement of specific areas of the city and the purchase of in-car camera systems to record traffic stops and street encounters with the intent of improving evidence collection for the use in illegal weapons prosecutions. The proposed project is designed to be implemented in coordination with Albany's Operation IMPACT violent crime reduction initiative in order to enhance the Albany Police Department's intelligence-led, data-driven, multi-jurisdictional response to violent crime and gangs. The Operation IMPACT initiative involves a multi-jurisdictional approach to combating violent and firearm related crime. Grant funding will be utilized to provide computer technologies and equipment necessary to retrieve, store, analyze, and disseminate critical criminal information to all ranks and units of the Albany Police Department. Funding will also be utilized to provide staffing for initiatives and operations deemed appropriate through analysis and mapping of data and intelligence. The goals of the project are to reduce the number of violent crimes and firearm related crimes by improving data and intelligence gathering, analysis, mapping, and dissemination, and by utilizing that information in crafting and implementing strategic responses and proactive initiatives to uncover, investigate, and arrest individuals and groups responsible for such crimes.

CA/NCF