Crimes Against Seniors/School Resource Officer

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program (Byrne Discretionary Program) helps local communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and provides for national support efforts. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 08 Congressional Budget. Funds should be used for purposes recommended by Congress.

The Will County Sheriff's Office will target gang- and drug-related activity, crimes against the elderly, and violence in the Fairmount School District 89. The County has experienced a population increase, which has affected crime among these two populations. To combat elderly abuse and exploitation, the County will hire a full-time Senior Crimes Detective dedicated to investigating senior crime and to develop a partnership with the Sheriff's Office in-house social worker. The detective will also be provided with relevant training on senior crime victimization to both be able to deal with elderly victims and to help prevent abuse and exploitation through the implementation of an education initiative targeted at local law enforcement, financial institutions, faith-based and community organizations, hospitals, and seniors themselves. To combat school violence, the County will hire a full-time School Resource Officer dedicated to preventing youth gang- and drug-related activity and violence. The officer will present the DARE and GREAT programs, provide anger management and anti-bullying strategies, mentor at-risk students, provide security by intervening in dangerous situations, and act as liaison to parents, teachers, and the juvenile justice system.

NCA/NCF