Monitoring Crime Hot Spots with Cameras and Law Enforcement Enhancement

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 Greenville and Pitt County have agreed to share the Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award of $34,213. The agencies intend to divide the funds equally. The Greenville Police Department plans to use funds to purchase three Flash Cam 880 digital Vandalism Deterrent Systems with Wireless download capabilities. The Pitt County Sheriff's office will spend $17,106.50 on an FLIR thermal unit for their helicopter, which will detect body heat when searching for suspects from the air.

NCA/NCF