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).

The city of Boston will utilize fiscal year 2009 JAG funding to continue multiple criminal justice initiatives that involves domestic violence advocacy, youth violence intervention, forensic data tracking, and police technology innovation. Specifically, the grant will be used to support the salary and benefits for staff tasked with providing safety planning, service referral, and advocacy for victims of domestic violence; staff assigned to project management and coordination of new system applications and technology initiatives involving criminal justice databases; an analyst who will be responsible for the coordination, facilitation, tracking, and monitoring of prevention, intervention, and enforcement initiatives focusing on youth involvement in gun and gang activities; research staff who will perform statistical analysis and research of evidence-based practices in policing, and problem solving of issues specific to the police department; staff tasked with designing and producing outreach materials and training guides for the police department and courtroom documentation; and a data tracking analyst assigned to the police department's firearms analysis unit. Remaining funds will be applied towards administrative fees associated with the management of this award.

NCA/NCF