Fiscal Year 2008 Michigan Justice Assistance Grant

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 Michigan Office of Drug Control Policy will use their Fiscal Year 2008 funds to support the continuation of the gains and accomplishments achieved through Byrne Formula/Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding in previous years. The criminal justice system in the state has adopted a number of initiatives to break the cycle of substance abuse and violent crime, including an expansion of the number and types of offenders served by drug treatment courts. In addition, there has been expansion of treatment in both institutional and community corrections settings. The continuing need is to reinforce the gains that have been made and to realize the promise of these new initiatives. The challenge continues to be improving these programs while drastically decreasing costs. Funds will be used to support multi-jurisdictional task forces, community policing and community prosecution strategies, technology enhancement projects, local correctional programs, and problem solving courts.

The multi-jurisdictional task forces will continue to integrate federal, state, county, and local law enforcement and prosecutors to enhance interagency coordination and intelligence; facilitate multi-jurisdictional investigations to remove mid- and upper-level narcotics offenders and related conspiracies; and impact and assist in solving regional and local community drug and violent crime related problems. The primary emphasis of the community policing and community prosecution program area is directing criminal justice activities through the development of data-driven crime control strategies. Eligibility for technology enhancement funding will be limited to criminal justice agencies not eligible for JAG funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance and projects will be required to demonstrate a cost and/or time savings and increased efficiency for criminal justice employees and the public service area. The focus of local correctional initiatives is to improve local correctional services by providing needed resources and treatment services for juveniles and adults with substance abuse problems. Problem solving courts will continue to include drug treatment courts and expand into other areas such as, family dependency, mental health, and domestic violence. The Michigan Office of Drug Control Policy will use administrative funds to support and implement the JAG Program in the State.

NCA/NCF