Crime Reduction Through Increased Interaction With Citizens and Law Enforcement Task Forces

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 Moss Point will implement a Targeting Violent Crime Initiative at the Moss Point Police Department funded under Category 1: Targeting Violent Crime. They will fund overtime hours to enlarge police patrols in communities and broaden the participation with their Community Watch. The focus of the Community Watch project is to provide a link between the community and the police department in an effort to promote an enhanced quality of life for citizens. The goals of the project are to reduce violent crimes within the city through the increased presence of law enforcement, have a measurable effect on the violent crime rate, provide a sense of security, and create a long lasting partnership among law enforcement and the community.

CA/NCF