FY 08 Edward Byrne Memorial 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 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will utilize their Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding for the following program areas: (1) Law Enforcement; (2) Prosecution and Courts; (3) Prevention and Education; (4) Corrections; (5) Drug Treatment; and (6) Technology Improvement.

JAG funding will focus on the following activities: (1) Reducing the flow of illegal drugs and narcotics by improving the operational effectiveness of law enforcement agencies; (2) Improving investigation and prosecution systems by strengthening the operational capacity and effectiveness of the criminal investigations and processing system; (3) Providing alternatives to imprisonment with effective follow-up and identification of juvenile and adult drug users; (4) Improving the criminal and juvenile justice system through joint and integrated coordination to reduce the high rates of domestic violence, sexual offense and abuse of children and the elderly; (5) Providing neighborhood assistance to prevent and control crime by encouraging an effective network between local non-profit organizations, state and federal agencies to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods and communities; (6) Reducing the use of controlled substances in penal institutions by improving and expanding existing programs to rehabilitate criminal offenders; (7) Establishing drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs for adults and juvenile offenders to provide comprehensive treatment services and reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; and (8) Improving the operational effectiveness of forensic laboratories by enhancing the capacity of state forensic laboratories to conduct better investigations and analysis of evidence related to violent crimes.

NCA/NCF