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 Hennepin County, and the cities of Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park will utilize their Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award in the amount of $352,257 to continue their community policing and public safety efforts. The fiscal agent, Hennepin County, will use $138,322 to fund overtime for the Minneapolis Anti-Violence Initiative, investigative services for the county prosecutor's Gang Prosecution Unit, community policing activities of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, and consultants to provide connectivity for municipal units of government to the Hennepin County Justice Information System. Hennepin County will use $17,613 for administration of the JAG grant. The administration fee is included in Hennepin County's allocation of $138,322. The City of Minneapolis will use $196,946 to fund two attorney positions in the City Attorney's Office assigned to police precincts. These attorneys will serve as direct, immediate, legal resources for uniformed officers and investigators. JAG funds will also be used to provide the Minneapolis Police Department with overtime for targeted patrols and investigation, as well as various equipment and software purchases for the Investigation and Patrol Units and crime lab. The city of Brooklyn Park will use $16,989 to pay for a portion of a crime analyst position, as well as upgrades for software used by the analyst.

NCA/NCF