Community Corrections Problem Solving Through Web 2.0 Project

This program is funded under both the Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program (Byrne Competitive Program) and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. Authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), the Byrne Competitive Program helps local communities improve the capacity of state and local justice systems and provides for national support efforts including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address local needs. The JAG Program (42 U.S.C. 3751) is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions, and JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system. The JAG Program authorization also states that 'the Attorney General may reserve not more than 5 percent, to be granted to 1 or more States or units of local government, for 1 or more of the purposes specified in section 3751 of this title, pursuant to his determination that the same is necessary'(1) to combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime' (42 U.S.C. 3756).

The National Initiative: Encouraging Innovation: Field-Initiated Programs is designed to strengthen the criminal justice system by challenging those in the field to identify and define emerging or chronic systemic issues faced by one or more components of the criminal justice continuum (includes but not limited to law enforcement, corrections, courts, and community collaborations) and to propose innovative solutions to address these issues.

The Council of State Governments/American Probation and Parole Association (CSG/APPA), in conjunction with Institute for Public Safety Partnerships and the Center for Technology and Public Policy at the University of Illinois, will provide a national training and technical assistance to develop an online community portal that uses Web 2.0 principles of communication, collaboration and information exchange to provide innovative training and technical assistance in the areas of community partnerships and problem-solving. Through the online community portal, CSG/APPA will provide, on a nationwide level, an innovative, cost-effective way to deliver training, provide follow-up technical assistance, and provide an outlet for probation and parole officers to engage in collaborative communications.

CA/NCF