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 city of Panama will use its Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award in the amount of $11,333 to upgrade existing vehicle technology. Specifically, the Panama City Police Department will purchase 55 mobile laptop computer hard drives, 30 mobile laptop computer mounts, and 50 power supplies to be utilized by officers while on patrol. This equipment, along with newly enhanced software, gives the Panama City police officers the ability to access the department's Records Management System while on patrol. The software also integrates with several information systems, and gives the patrol officers on the road another means of viewing and communicating with the Computer Aided Dispatch system. With this new system and the mobile computer equipment, community and officer safety will be greatly enhanced due to quicker response times and the ability to quickly gather and disseminate information. Officers will also be able to assist with major incidents and emergency situations quicker by receiving early notifications from other agencies such as emergency medical services, the fire department, or the County Emergency Operations Center.

NCA/NCF