FY 2009 Justice Assistance Grant 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).

Albany County, the city of Albany, and the town of Colonie will apply Fiscal Year 2009 JAG funding towards multiple law initiatives aimed at enhancing law enforcement services provided to the community. Specifically, the city, through the Department of Public Safety, will use grant funds to support officer overtime and benefits associated with community policing involving the disruption of drug markets, arrests of chronic offenders, and the reduction of gun and gang violence, domestic violence, burglary, and robbery. Specialized equipment used to identify latent fingerprints on recovered firearms will also be purchased. The town of Colonie will use its share to purchase laptop computers and associated equipment which will enable the town police department to use its computer-aided dispatch system in a mobile field or fixed secondary site application. A mobile data terminal to be housed in a patrol vehicle will also be purchased. The Albany County Sheriff's Office will use remaining funds to purchase video/microphone systems. The new equipment will enable officers to record video, still photographs, and sound evidence when activated, regardless of location or activity. For administration purposes, the city of Albany will serve as the fiscal agent for this award.

NCA/NCF