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 American Samoa Criminal Justice Planning Agency (CJPA) will use its Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award to continue funding the programs that have proven successful over the years in this southern Pacific island group. CJPA will use $37,327, or 10 percent of the total grant award, to pay for the administrative costs associated with managing and monitoring the grant funds. The remaining JAG funds will be divided among the four major islands to pay for the following activities: 1) a records improvement mandate; 2) high court judicial training; 3) drug and violent crime prosecution; 4) intelligence gathering and information sharing; 5) criminal investigations and intelligence bureau activities; 6) Department of Treasury/Customs canine enforcement; 7) Department of Public Safety/Manu'a law enforcement services; 8) Manu'a community-based policing/community service activities; and 9) a program evaluation.

NCA/NCF