Safer Community 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 Jersey City Police Department will utilize fiscal year 2007 Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Category I Targeting Violent Crime funds to support personnel costs associated with the Safer Community Task Force, a joint effort between the police department and the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office. The initiative will specifically target violent crime at two housing complexes in the city through intense and aggressive policing. Efforts will be expanded into other target areas identified through crime analysis and data shared by the two agencies. In addition, the Jersey City Police Department will purchase and install CCTV surveillance equipment to monitor high crime areas and laptop computers for police officers to use while on patrol.

CA/NCF