Law Enforcement Improvements

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).

Mecklenburg County, the city of Charlotte, and the towns of Huntersville and Pineville have executed a Memorandum of Understanding and will use their allocated 2009 JAG award funding of $1,060,715 for law enforcement purposes within the county. The city of Charlotte will use its share of the award ($777,820) to put additional police manpower on the streets through overtime hours and further prevention efforts for at-risk youth by developing an after-school and summer program for the Police Athletic League. Mecklenburg County will use its share of the award ($259,273) for equipment for the Mecklenburg County Courthouse and jail facilities located throughout the county. Funds will also be used for training programs for inmates. The town of Huntersville will use its share of the award ($12,154) to purchase two-in-car cameras to document the actions taken by their officers. The town of Pineville will use its share of the award ($11,468) to purchase a computerized system clock to synchronize the times on its computer networks and emergency dispatch system.

NCA/NCF