FY 2008 JAG 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 disparate jurisdictions of Franklin County and the City of Columbus will use their Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) award in the amount of $307,432 to continue successful projects and /or implement new projects in accordance with the Franklin County Comprehensive Strategic Justice Plan. The fiscal agent, the Office of Franklin County Homeland Security and Justice Programs, will utilize administrative funds totaling $30,743 to administer the JAG program; provide planning, training, fiscal and programmatic oversight, assessment and reporting; and procure travel for BJA conferences and events. The City of Columbus Police Department will be allocated $100,000 to support information technology to allow for regional information sharing. Specifically, the funds will support on-going maintenance for the NetRMS and CrisNet Cruiser projects. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office will be allocated $100,000 for overtime expenses to: reduce over 10,000 outstanding warrants; continue the Interdiction Concentrated Enforcement (ICE) community education program; continue the Stop Teenage Opportunity to Purchase (STOP) project that performs underage sales compliance checks and targets the underage drinking at OSU Football games; and continue the Street Smart drug/gang/cyber education and outreach for parents and youth serving adults. The Columbus City Attorney will be allocated $76,689 to support on-going victim assistance projects by employing an investigator for stalking and telecommunications harassment cases. All projects funded under the FY 2008 JAG program will be tracked for fiscal and programmatic compliance, and will be required to report fiscal activity quarterly and programmatic activity on a semi-annual basis.

NCA/NCF