Rochester Crime Prevention 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 city of Rochester and the county of Olmsted will utilize their Fiscal Year 2008 JAG funds to reduce crime by educating the public about crime prevention, and supporting community policing initiatives. The fiscal agent, the city of Rochester, will use the entire $14,256 grant to support the following projects: 1) a crime prevention web page; 2) 'Cop Talk Live' television program, which is a call-in television crime prevention and public safety information program; and 3) supplies for volunteer programs supporting the police such as TRIAD (Senior Citizens who volunteer and attend regular monthly crime prevention meetings) and VIPS (younger volunteers who come in at night to help with clerical tasks and on various programs). All funds will be used by the fiscal agent, however, all of the programs will be open to Olmsted County residents and businesses who wish to participate and qualify for participation in the programs.

NCA/NCF