Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2008, $20,396)
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 county of Florence will utilize its Fiscal Year 2008 JAG Award in the amount of $20,396 to implement the Corrections Communications Improvement project. The Florence County Sheriff's Office operates a detention center for both violent and non-violent offenders as part of their law enforcement complex. The detention center is comprised of nine pods holding an average of 450 inmates per day that are regulated and patrolled by 84 detention officers.
Working in a detention center is highly stressful and can put officers in dangerous positions, communication is essential. Currently, the center has 75 mobile radios, 39 of which are outdated and can no longer be repaired if broken. Of the 39 outdated radios, 12 are now in-operable. Life expectancy of mobile radios is only five to seven years, and the newest radios in possession are over eleven years old. Officers depend on their mobile radios for day-to-day operations of the detention center, allowing them to alert other officers for assistance and communicate inmate activity. In order for officers to effectively perform their jobs and minimize safety risks, the Florence County Sheriff's Office will purchase eleven new mobile radios, two mobile dock chargers, and related accessories.
NCA/NCF