FY 2008 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 Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Office of Intergovernmental Services will utilize their Fiscal Year 2008 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program award to enhance their multi-jurisdictional task force program. The task force program enables criminal justice agencies to remove major narcotics trafficking conspiracies and offenders through investigation, arrest, prosecution, and conviction. Specifically, the DFA will: 1) identify, arrest, and prosecute those individuals engaged in drug trafficking; 2) limit the availability of and increase the per unit price of illegal drugs; 3) increase recovery of trafficking assets with the cooperative efforts of the State Police, sheriff's offices, and municipal law enforcement agencies; 4) continue the use of confidential informants for purposes of controlled purchases, buy-busts, and obtaining search warrants for locations manufacturing and distributing large quantities of drugs; and 5) continue the use of surveillance activities on suspected manufacturing and distribution locations and the individuals involved. Administrative funds will be used by the DFA for costs for personnel, facilities, and miscellaneous costs directly related to administering the JAG grant.

NCA/NCF