Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program - "Building Automated Capacities for Correctional Information Sharing" (under Category VI - Facilitating Justice Information Sharing)

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 Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA) will use grant funds to support its Building Automated Capacities for Correctional Information Sharing Project. This project is based on gathering and sharing critical corrections and law enforcement information. The goals of the project are to develop organized, user-friendly and efficient means of automation; expand current BJA projects to include or improve automated information sharing; and establish information sharing brainstorming opportunities for Corrections Administrators and their IT Directors. ASCA expects this project to contribute to more efficient and effective management of correctional agencies, thereby increasing institutional and community safety. The strategy is to develop a user-friendly web portal that will enable the sharing of regularly updated information.

CA/NCF