Mobile Data Terminals

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).

Under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, the Richmond County Sheriff's Office will continue to purchase and maintain mobile data terminals and associated technology for use in vehicles assigned to the Field Operations Division. This FY 2008 funding will be used to further the technological undertaking that this agency began with the 1998 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program. The purchase of mobile data terminal systems will: 1) enable an officer the ability to directly access the Georgia Crime Information Center and National Crime Information Center systems to determine 'wants or warrants' on individuals, along with access to entered information on stolen property; 2) dramatically increase the recovery of stolen vehicles within a short period of time of a reported theft; 3) permit an officer to immediately enter reports and stolen property information, reducing down time, and allowing that officer to remain on duty; 4) further eliminate the current practice of typing or handwriting a report by a field officer, only to be retyped by a Records Bureau employee for entry into the computer database, allowing for a reduction in the workload of Records Bureau personnel as well as more expedient filing of important reports; 5) allow field officers access to offender information such as identity, criminal history, and other important data that would otherwise be unknown to the officer until after some action has been taken; and, 6) reduce the direct 'on air' contact with Communications Officers, allowing for better radio security, a lessened dispatcher workload, and quicker transmittal of information.

NCA/NCF