Project Community Partner

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 Cherokee County Sheriff's Office will utilize this Byrne Discretionary Category II: Preventing Crime and Drug Abuse funding to implement Project Community Partner. The primary goal of this project is to create a strong partnership with the community in order to reduce property crime and drug abuse. The strategies employed will include a structured outreach program that will coordinate programs such as Neighborhood Watch, Explorers (high school students understanding the criminal justice system), Adopt-a-Senior, Triad, and VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service). In addition, scheduled work details will contribute to neighborhood restoration and revitalization. Finally, the Sheriff's Division heads will participate together in four Town Hall meetings during the grant cycle, allowing easy access for the community to gain information relevant to their area, to ask questions and receive feedback on emerging issues. These meetings will take place at least once in each of the four major communities in Cherokee County.

CA/NCF