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).

Ada County and the cities of Boise, Meridian, and Garden will use their Fiscal Year 2009 JAG award in the amount of $309,007 to administer public safety and criminal justice programs and to meet the law enforcement needs of each agency within Ada County. Ada County, serving as the fiscal agent, will use their portion of the grant to improve the security and safety within Ada County facilities by installing security cameras within the jail and the Driver's License Bureau. Garden City will use their share to improve public education and management of sex offenders within their jurisdiction. The city of Boise will use their portion toward the purchase of a data management system and associated software. Meridian Police currently uses the New World Records Management System on an AS400 platform, so the city of Meridian will use their portion to update to a window-based program and to upgrade their software modules to make their system more user-friendly and increase sharing of key law enforcement data with other law enforcement agencies.

NCA/NCF