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).

Cobb County will use its Fiscal Year 2009 JAG award to improve the criminal justice system by creating and retaining jobs and providing needed equipment to enable county law enforcement to more effectively protect the citizens of Cobb County. These goals will be achieved by providing funding to two county agencies and one non-profit to create and sustain three jobs. The funding will be provided to the Cobb County Police Department to purchase tasers for their officers and to the Cobb County Sheriff's Office to purchase an upgraded radio system for its new jail addition. The District Attorney's Office will be able to purchase needed laptop computers and a local non-profit will purchase a copier that will be dedicated to copying child abuse victim's records needed for prosecution. The Cobb County's Juvenile Court will continue to fund one full-time Juvenile Probation Officer in the Gang Suppression Program [GSP]. The Northwest Georgia, Inc., will employ a Victim Liaison to serve as a 'go-between' for victims of domestic violence and law enforcement and the legal system. The Turner Hill CDC ' Harmony House, will use the funds to employ a Case Manager. The focus of the 2009 JAG Funding is to support county agencies that work to provide Cobb County's citizens with a safe environment. The JAG funds will enable a continuum of basic duties and functions at the highest level possible

NCA/NCF