Crime Prevention Community Service Officer Project

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).

The city of Blythe will use JAG funds to employ a Community Service Officer (CSO) whose primary responsibility will be crime prevention. The CSO will facilitate crime prevention programs such as stranger danger and pedestrian/bicycle safety to elementary school age children. Drug and gang prevention will be taught to all school age children with the primary focus on the middle school and high school age students. Infant and Child Restraint clinics will be held approximately every other month. The CSO will teach part of the Citizen Patrol Academy and assists with the training of the members of the patrol. The CSO will also maintain statistics and financial records for the Blythe Narcotics Enforcement Team, and process asset forfeiture claims when necessary.

NCA/NCF