FY 2008 City and County of Tuscaloosa JAG IV Project

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 city of Tuscaloosa Police Department and the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office have come to an agreement that the $35,710.00 will be split $21,426.00 for city of Tuscaloosa Police Department and 14,284.00 for the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office.
The Tuscaloosa Police Department will use funds to: (1) provide officers on the street with the most up to date technology available; (2) provide officers with as much information as possible to ensure they are fully aware of call type, the history of the address they are responding to, and various other pieces of information related to the call; and (3) provide the citizens of Tuscaloosa with a department fully capable of handling and solving crime problems. The Tuscaloosa Police Department will continue to fund the Mobile Data Unit (MDU) Project. The Mobile Data Unit Project is a continuation project started in 1998 using Local Law Enforcement Block Grant funds. The goal is to have an MDU in each police unit and the project will assist in placing four MDU's in patrol cars.

The Tuscaloosa County Sherriff's Office will use the funds to provide deputies on the street with the most up-to-date technology available to protect themselves and the community. The grant funds will be used to continue funding for the In-Car Video Camera Project. The Sheriff's Office will purchase In-Car Digital Video Systems for three patrol vehicles. Grants funds will be used to buy three camera systems that will include automatic upgrades that allow the system to grow as technology grows.

NCA/NCF