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).

Erie County, the cities of Buffalo and Lackawanna, and the towns of Amherst, Cheektowaga, and Tonawanda will apply fiscal year 2009 JAG funding towards multiple initiatives aimed at enhancing law enforcement services provided to the community. The county will use its share to support the salaries of an assistant district attorney assigned to juvenile justice prosecution and a software programmer tasked with examining and improving the efficiency of the county's law enforcement records management system. The city of Buffalo will use funds for officer overtime associated with directed patrol efforts, juvenile delinquency prevention programs, crisis intervention and counseling programs, the city's drug court, and community policing initiatives that includes a citizen's police academy, a non-emergency police service phone line, and a program that aims to rid residential properties of drug activity. The city of Lackawanna will purchase radar units and breath test devices for traffic enforcement. The town of Amherst will apply its share towards mobile radios and hardware for its police department's patrol vehicles. The town of Cheektowaga will support officer overtime for selective enforcement activities and an update of tactical mapping. Tonawanda will use remaining funds to purchase a new marked patrol vehicle for its K-9 unit. For administrative purposes, the city of Buffalo will serve as the fiscal agent for this award.

NCA/NCF