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 Virginia Beach will use its Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award in the amount of $64,185 to purchase an automated grading system, a forensic mapping system, a video conferencing system, and a video arraignment system. The Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) will purchase a Scantron automated grading system machine to automate and grade tests at the Virginia Beach Police Academy. Once in place, this technology will allow for the department and the Commonwealth of Virginia to account for the training received by each of the students, and will reduce staff time so that they do not need to grade and track tests manually. The VBPD will purchase a forensic mapping system to improve the effectiveness and functioning of its Fatal Accident Crash Team's response to serious injury and fatal vehicle crashes. This upgrade will allow the Fatal Accident Crash Team to continue to properly document all evidence present at a crash scene and complete a scale diagram. This forensic mapping system will assist the department in accomplishing some of its missions, which is to ensure traffic safety, to make the roadways safer for all users, and to reduce the deaths, injuries and property damage caused by motor vehicle crashes through traffic enforcement and education.

The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court will use a portion of the JAG award to purchase a Polycom Media Center to provide the court system and other jurisdictions the capability to arraign prisoners from various jurisdictions, which will decrease the expense of transporting prisoners for arraignment. The Polycom Media Center will provide the state-of-art digital sound equipment and sound quality, and provide for more efficient and increased quality video with a decrease in bandwidth. The Sheriff's Office will purchase equipment to add a second video arraignment set-up in one General District Courtroom for video arraignment and bond hearings. The equipment will save the Sheriff's Office time and manpower in transporting prisoners, as well as save the court time in waiting for deputies to transport prisoners.

NCA/NCF