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 disparate jurisdictions of the city of Salisbury and the county of Rowan will utilize their Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award in the amount of $10,239 for law enforcement purposes. The Salisbury Police Department (SPD) will use their portion of the JAG funds ($8,191) to enhance their efforts to reduce youth gang-related acts of graffiti and vandalism. This grant will allow the SPD to purchase a camera system to photograph criminal activities. The camera system includes a mobile graffiti/vandalism detection camera that is placed in residential neighborhoods, commercial, industrial and academic properties that are plagued by repeated acts of vandalism and graffiti and a laptop computer that will be used to download the date and time of the event and produce evidence-quality photographic images of the violators. This system will eliminate the need for human surveillance.

The Rowan County Sheriff's Office who will utilize their portion of the grant ($2,048) to enhance officer safety by increasing the amount of information available during vehicle stops. Specifically, funds will be used to cover the costs of providing connection for fourteen mobile data terminals to the North Carolina Division of Criminal Information. This connection will allow deputies in the field to access information such as, driver's license data, warrants, and listings of stolen vehicles. It is anticipated that this data will give deputies the information needed to keep them safe while conducting traffic stops.

NCA/NCF