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).

Catoosa County will use the JAG funds to purchase equipment for the Catoosa County Sheriff's Office. Specifically, the funds will be used to purchase laptop computers as part of a vision of the agency to provide computerized services to the patrol officer. The goal of the program will be to place mobile computer systems in the patrol vehicles. These systems will enhance the officer's ability to retrieve data from the National Crime Information System and the Georgia Crime Information System. The computer systems will allow communications between the officers and the communication center. This will enable the field officer to more efficiently check the status of offenders in the field, improving officer safety and thereby take the appropriate enforcement actions in a timelier manner.

NCA/NCF