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).

Suffolk County will apply fiscal year 2009 JAG funding towards multiple initiatives aimed at enhancing criminal justice services provided to the community. Specifically, grant funds will be used to support the sheriff's office gang seminar that will focus on trends and effective models for prevention and intervention. The sheriff's office will also purchase three mobile data terminals and related software, as well as a marked vehicle for crime scene response. The county police department will purchase video forensic software and hardware that will be used to analyze digital and analog video evidence, and update its child interview facility in an effort to make the room more comfortable to victims and improve resulting communications. The county probation department will apply funds towards the maintenance and support of its case management system and software. Funds will also be used to support the salary of a consulting psychologist and operating costs for an adolescent outpatient clinic that will provide services for youth referred by the criminal justice system, the salary of a detective investigator within the district attorney's office assigned to a heroin drug task force, confidential funds for sting operations, and the salary of a counselor tasked with providing services to victims of domestic and sexual violence who are at risk for substance abuse.

NCA/CF