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 Richmond will use its 2008 JAG award in the amount of $134,892 to support four important city initiatives that directly relate to public safety, law enforcement, and prosecution. The initiatives are: the Richmond Police Department (RPD) Law Enforcement Enhancements, the Commonwealth Attorney's Office Prosecutors' Training, the Richmond City Sheriff's Office Court House & Jail Security Enhancement Project, and the Adult Drug Court. The Richmond Police Department Law Enforcement Enhancements Project will provide resources in target areas to ensure service providers have the ability to extend programs and provide increased participation to community youth; purchase a database to integrate the Records Management System; and, secure a battery operated, mobile display message board for traffic enforcement, notification of police activities, and general policing (community policing and enforcement) activities. The Commonwealth Attorney's Office Prosecutors' Training Project, through the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, will train and educate a team of prosecutors, with an emphasis in the areas of Juvenile Justice, Guns, Gangs, Drug Prosecution, White Collar, and Domestic Violent crimes. This training will support and enhance the quality of prosecution and expose the team to best practices and innovative prosecution alternatives.

The Richmond City Sheriff's Office will purchase security cameras for all parking areas, the entrance, and the lobby of the court building through the Richmond City Sheriff's Office Court House & Jail Security Enhancement Project. Also, training will be provided for operating, monitoring, and maintenance of the equipment. The Richmond Adult Drug Treatment Court (RADTC) is a voluntary, court-supervised substance abuse treatment program for non-violent felony offenders. The program includes regular appearances before a Circuit Court Judge, drug testing, individual and group counseling, and 12-step meetings. The program will provide intensive court monitoring and substance abuse treatment services to non-violent substance abusing offenders.

NCA/NCF