Fiscal Year 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 disparate jurisdictions of the county of Stearns and city of St. Cloud will utilize their Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award in the amount of $14,001 to expand public safety in the Stearns County and city of St. Cloud communities. Both jurisdictions will receive a total of $7,000.50 from the JAG allocation. Stearns County will combine its grant funds with those received in 2007 to support the Stearns County Sheriff's Department with the purchase of a tactical video unit for its Special Emergency Response Team. The tactical video unit will serve as a safety measure to be able to monitor or survey an area before a tactical team is deployed. The city of St. Cloud will use its grant funds for the St. Cloud Police Department's Crime Free Unit by providing funding for clerical staffing in the Crime Free Multi Housing and Crime Free Hotel/Motel programs. The Crime Free Unit requires additional staffing due to the increase in training sessions for both rental property owners and management, as well as the management and staff of the local hotels. This program keeps management and owners up-to-date on current trends and enables them to recognize and address potential drug and criminal activity, and take appropriate actions to eliminate them.

NCA/NCF