Justice Assistance Grant Program

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 Office of the Governor ' Criminal Justice Division (CJD) will utilize the 2008 JAG funds to support programs that are aligned with the state and national drug control strategy. In support of its goal to reduce violent crime, CJD proposes to fund programs under the following purpose areas: (1) Law Enforcement: Support the reduction of violent crime, organized crime, human trafficking, and drug crime; (2) Drug Treatment and Enforcement: Support drug courts and other juvenile or adult substance abuse treatment programs that serve as alternatives to incarceration; (3) Prosecution and Court Programs: Support the prosecution of organized crime, money laundering, drug and human trafficking, murder, and other violent crimes, and improve the effectiveness of the [Texas] court system; and (4) Planning, Evaluation, and Technology Improvement: Support evaluations of grant funded projects, interoperable communication systems, inter-connectivity, and enhancements to data systems that promote reporting of crime data and criminal intelligence. The CJD contracts with the Public Policy Research Institute at Texas A&M University to collect and compile performance data from all CJD sub-recipients. The CJD will exceed the minimum pass-through amount and will utilize less than 10 percent of the total award for administrative expenses.

NCA/NCF