Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2008, $1,125,140)
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 jurisdiction of the city of Houston and the county of Harris will utilize their Fiscal Year 2008 for law enforcement purposes. The Houston Police Department will continue to use funds for the salaries and benefits of seven civilian positions in Information Services Unit. These positions are critical to the development and maintenance of technology that supports all law enforcement personnel and they ensure that the security profile of all systems meets federal specifications. Funds will also be used for officer overtime for patrol and court appearances. Overtime for court appearance will be used when officers are scheduled to appear during off-duty days. The Harris County Sheriff's Office will replace its 10 year old audio logging system with a digital audio recording system to ensure that all telephone and radio traffic is recorded and can be retrieved for investigations and prosecution. The sheriff's office will also purchase an imaging server computer system for the latent fingerprint laboratory that will ensure that the integrity of crime scene images is protected and will enhance the examiner's ability to identify recovered latent evidence. In addition, funds will be used to create an assistant mobile data administrator position that will assist with the expansion of mobile data terminals in the sheriff's office.
NCA/NCF