2008 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG)

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).

Mississippi proposes to utilize Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 JAG funding to address crime problems facing the state's criminal justice system. The state plans to revisit the issue of crime prevention at the community level by encouraging the development and implementation of successful revitalization programs and adding special law enforcement and prosecutorial resources to the community. In keeping with the National Drug Control Strategy to encourage support of comprehensive drug and early intervention programs, resources will be provided to selected agencies to develop and implement prevention programs targeted at youth. FY 2008 funding will continue to focus on multi-jurisdictional drug task force programs, urban enforcement programs, unsolved violent crime programs, investigative and critical incident training programs, victim witness assistance programs, equipment/overtime programs for law enforcement agencies, drug court programs, crime prevention programs, and highway interdiction programs that investigate, arrest, and prosecute illegal drug activity throughout the State. Major emphasis will be placed on family violence issues, concentrating on child abuse and neglect, where resources will be made available to establish additional multi-disciplinary teams to provide a coordinated approach to child abuse investigation, prosecution, and treatment. Less than five percent of the total allocation will be dedicated to criminal justice records improvement activities. The grantee will utilize 10 percent of the total allocation for costs associated with administering the JAG program. Administration costs include salaries and fringe benefits for four full time staff and eight prorated staff, travel to attend conferences and provide on-site subgrant monitoring, building expenses, and office supplies.

NCA/NCF