Youngstown/Mahoning 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 city of Youngstown and Mahoning County agreed that the city will be the fiscal agent and the two jurisdictions will equally divide the award. Youngstown will use funds to purchase computers for police vehicles. The existing computers are over eight years old and require frequent repairs. Mahoning County will use funds to continue to support its drug court prosecutor position. The county has successful felony and misdemeanor drug court programs that significantly benefit local departments and agencies and increase the safety of the general population. The felony drug court program, established in 1997, has served 723 offenders with a 52 percent success rate. The misdemeanor drug court program was implemented in 2000, has served 280 offenders, and has a 56 percent success rate.

NCA/NCF