North Kern Repeat Offender 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 county of Kern will utilize their Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award in the amount of $64,484 to support the Kern County Probation Department's North Kern Repeat Offender Prevention Program. The program is aimed at redirecting the behavior of high-risk, first time offenders within the community and preventing recidivism in the juvenile justice system. The program continues to involve a multi-agency collaborative approach combined with intensive supervision of offenders to prevent their recidivism. The objectives of the program include: increasing school attendance by program participants; decreasing positive drug testing by program participants; training staff in recognizing and supervising gang members; and training staff on street drugs. JAG funding will enable the county of Kern to employ a Deputy Probation Officer to aid in the execution of programmatic objectives.

NCA/NCF