FY 2008 Elkhart County JAG

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 Elkhart County and the City of Elkhart will use their Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award in the amount of $12,027 to continue their public safety efforts. The fiscal agent, Elkhart County, will use $3,995 to purchase an in-car video system to record contact with individuals during calls for assistance and roadside stops, improve officer effectiveness, and provide concrete documentation of procedures to assist in successful prosecution. The City of Elkhart will use $3,846 to purchase a mobile radio system to increase officer safety and effectiveness in apprehensions by assisting officers by communicating locations, distress situations, calls for assistance, facts, and other safety information important in monitoring, controlling, and maintaining public safety. The two jurisdictions will also share their allocation with the City of Goshen, which was not originally allocated funding in Fiscal Year 2008. The City of Goshen will use $4,186 to purchase e-ticket equipment in order to enable the police department, courts, and state record keeping systems to work more efficiently by streamlining both ticket writing and the data collection process.

NCA/NCF