Fiscal Year 2008 Justice Assistance Grant 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 Hillsborough will use its Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award in the amount of $156,374 to support the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC), operated by the Agency for Community Treatment Services; the Hillsborough County Data Collaborative project, implemented by the University of South Florida; the Transition and Restoration Services (TRS) project in the Public Defender's Office; the Juvenile Inmate Program of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office; and administrative costs of 10 percent for the County's Grant Management Unit. The JAC will provide technical assistance to criminal justice staff that includes verifying and analyzing data, compiling reconciliation documentation, and supplying related reports. The County Data Collaborative project will compile, organize, and analyze existing administrative data across health, social service, and criminal justice systems in order to better inform program development, evaluation, and improvement. The TRS project is designed to assist clients in complying with court-ordered sanctions with the ultimate objective of reducing recidivism. The Juvenile Inmate Program will provide an eight-week life skills component for male offenders between the ages of 14 and 17. This initiative will be evaluated to determine whether it significantly impacts participants' successful reintegration into the community.

NCA/NCF