Bedford County FY 2009 JAG Project

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 county of Bedford will use JAG funds to purchase equipment that is deemed necessary to the professional function of the Bedford County Sheriff's Office. They will replace the cassette recorders needed for interviews and other situations with digital voice recorders. Not only will recordings be clearer and automatically stored, with easily auditable digital sound, transcribers will produce more accurate evidence documents for the courtroom. The Bedford County Sheriff's Office will purchase up-to-day radar equipment to control speed on the busy roads of Bedford County. They will fund the Student Safety Awards program that is being developed by the county's School Resource Officer division to promote Internet safety, drug awareness and self esteem building in the county's troubled youth. JAG funds will enhance the county's ability to better serve the community, help educate the county's youth, and fight crime more effectively.

NCA/NCF