Community Crime Prevention

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).

Laurens County will utilize its $10,295 Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award to purchase a Kidprint Identification System for the Laurens County Sheriff's Office. The system will capture vital information on local children, creating a child ID profile for parents and law enforcement. Such a profile would be used in emergency situations to increase effectiveness in resolving abductions and missing person cases. Profiles will have the capability to capture digital fingerprints, video, demographics and photographs of each child and can be transferred to CD or printed to create community flyers. Having the technology to create these child profiles will help the Laurens County Sheriff's Office in their crime prevention efforts and strengthen their relationship with the families of Laurens County.

NCA/NCF