2009 City and County of Yakima Technology and Juvenile Programs JAG Grant

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 disparate jurisdictions consisting of Yakima County and the city of Yakima will use their JAG grant award in the amount of $100,405 to enhance the quality of life for citizens in the county. The city of Yakima, serving as the fiscal agent, will use their share of the JAG award to support the Yakima Police Athletic League (Y-PAL), a juvenile gang prevention program for inner-city youth. Funds will purchase promotional materials, athletic supplies, equipment, and field rentals for an after-school soccer league. Additional funds will purchase broadband-capable laptop computers for the SWAT team for crime scene investigations, a web-based report writing system for citizens to file and obtain police reports via the internet, a video system for neighborhood hotspot surveillance, and video system upgrades for a multi-use facility that includes the police, courts, legal department, and the regional 911 Center. Lastly, funds will purchase licenses for a records management system that will allow officers to view other agencies' data at their work stations. Yakima County will use their share of the JAG award to purchase portable and mobile radios for the Yakima County Sheriff's Office and to update their automatic vehicle location system.

NCA/NCF