Technology Improvement Program

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) allows states and units of local governments, including tribes, to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and 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, including 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 and enforcement programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and 7) crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).

Clermont County will use its FY 2009 Local JAG award ($12,020) to purchase 15 tasers and four training cartridges for the Clermont Sheriff's Office. Currently, only 16 first responders have tasers. The Sheriff's Office is concerned that all of the deputies have not been provided with the same level of protection due to the lack of tasers. In 2008, the Clermont County Sheriff's Office recorded 11 incidents that involved the use of force. In nine of those incidents, deputies were not equipped with a taser and resulting officer injuries required medical treatment. In two other incidents where deputies were equipped with tasers, there was no report of injury to the officers involved. The 2009 JAG award will enable the Sheriff's Office to adequately equip the deputies with a less-than-lethal option of tasers.

NCA/NCF