Law Enforcement Equipment

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 St. Clair County and the city of East St. Louis will use their Fiscal Year 2008 Local JAG funds to continue their public safety efforts. The fiscal agent, the city of East St. Louis, will use $89,061 to purchase: 1) in-car video systems to help protect officers from unmerited lawsuits and provide for officer safety; 2) tasers and cartridges to provide officers with an alternative weapon to subdue combative suspects, and training on the use of the tasers; 3) video cameras in order to comply with the State's Attorneys Office's requirement that all interviews with suspects be videotaped; 4) computer hardware and software in order to replace antiquated and malfunctioning equipment in key locations in the police department; and 5) travel costs for OJP Financial Management Seminar training. St. Clair County has chosen to allocate the entire award to the city of East St. Louis.

NCA/NCF