Dane County and City of Madison Law Enforcement Initiative

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 Dane County and the city of Madison will use their Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award in the amount of $56,815 to continue their public safety efforts. The fiscal agent, the city of Madison, will use $18,000 to purchase a forensic recovery of evidence device that will enable detectives and investigators to analyze current technology; a robotic tape library, which will allow for the storage of back-up evidentiary data offsite; and a ballistic shield for the Emergency Response Team that will be used in critical incidents in which a suspect has either a hunting or assault weapon. Dane County will use $38,815 to fund project coordination and evaluation services, as well as case management and drug screening services for the Dane County Department of Human Service's Drug Court Treatment Program; victim/witness services provided by Trauma Specialists and for programs providing training for law enforcement and/or victims and witnesses of crime through the Dane County District Attorney's Office; and overtime and benefit costs incurred during the investigations, apprehension, and prosecution of drug distribution offenders for the Dane County Narcotic and Gang Task Force.

NCA/NCF