Fiscal Year 2008 JAG 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 New Hampshire Department of Justice's Fiscal Year 2008 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program strategy identifies four priority areas that the State of New Hampshire plans to address over the next three years. The basis of the strategy and plans for the JAG grant funding has been developed through the State Administering Agency's integral involvement in criminal justice planning for the State. The first priority area addresses the need for increased enforcement of laws prohibiting illegal drug use and sales in the State. The State of New Hampshire supports one multi-jurisdictional drug task force that is coordinated at the state level but contracts with state, county, and local law enforcement officers as undercover operatives to conduct controlled drug investigations at the local level. The second priority area references the continued need for criminal justice information sharing among all criminal justice system components. New Hampshire has made great strides in the development of a state criminal justice information system, known as J-One and a tri-state Automated Fingerprint Identification System with the States of Maine and Vermont. The third priority area is cyber crime. As technology has evolved so has the nature of criminal activity. The New Hampshire Department of Justice has partnered with the New Hampshire State Police and the Justiceworks Consortium at the University of New Hampshire. The strategic plan that was created addresses cyber crime enhancements in four specific areas: 1) investigative capacity at both the state and local level; 2) forensic capabilities developed at the state level to which local forensic technicians will have a direct and secure access; 3) prosecution capabilities that will train prosecutors in what to look for and why, as well as how to prosecute; and 4) community outreach to develop new partnerships with both citizens and private businesses and industries. The final funding area will be in the maintenance of ongoing planning processes for projects relating to Homeland Security and special purpose courts, such as mental health and drug courts. The State of New Hampshire will continue to make use of a small amount of funding, in these specific areas, to continue planning efforts in support of larger implementation efforts being undertaken with other funding sources received by the State. The ultimate goal is to ensure a safe and productive living environment for all New Hampshire citizens.

NCA/NCF