Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2008, $1,720,846)
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) allows states, tribes, and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice for any one or more of the following purpose areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court programs; 3) prevention and education programs; 4) corrections and community corrections programs; 5) drug treatment programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and 7)crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), Law Enforcement and Traffic Safety Division (LETS), as the State Administering Agency (SAA), will administer the Fiscal Year 2008 Edward Byrne Memorial State Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. The ADECA LETS Division's goals for the Fiscal Year 2008 JAG Program include the following: (1) To promote and encourage coordination and cooperation among law enforcement agencies operating within the State that are combating violent crime and illegal drug activities, and to promote and encourage their coordination and cooperation with other jurisdictional entities that are providing support and assistance to the overall effort by providing services to criminal justice system components. This is a comprehensive goal set out to promulgate a cooperative atmosphere between the several participating entities whose mandates are to enforce the State's laws and to protect and to serve the public. (2) To develop drug/violent crime task forces that respond to crimes associated with drug activity, and to interdict illegal drugs being manufactured or transported into and/or through Alabama. This goal is Alabama's major priority, and specific subgrant programs will be supported with this goal as their focus. Currently there are 31 task force groups operating in Alabama. Task force goals include providing expertise in drug interdiction, confronting drug smuggling, and cooperating with federal and State authorities in national anti-drug efforts. Resources are provided by the task force groups to address, investigate, and prosecute violent crime. (3) To destroy marijuana crops proliferating in Alabama. Marijuana proliferation is identified as a major illegal activity in Alabama. (4) To provide testing capabilities that will detect the use of illegal drugs and identify drug abusers, and to provide a drug/substance abuse treatment system that will assist individuals in addressing their drug addictions. (5) To provide systems for intelligence-gathering and information/data collection and analysis to assist in identifying problem areas, coordinating enforcement efforts, and developing methods to address informational needs. Intelligence systems receive subgrant program support and are another of Alabama's major priorities.
NCA/NCF