Garfield County Sheriff's Office Improvement of School Programs and Public Relations

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).

Garfield County will use their local JAG funds to purchase the Why-Try Program to integrate into school programs including sending three deputies to a 2-day Why-Try Program Certification training. The WhyTry Program is a gang resistance education program that addresses dropping out of school, violence, drugs and alcohol, truancy prevention, and how to increase academic success. The deputies will also receive Why-Try Program supplies to be used to implement the program into schools for the 2009-10 school year and for years to come. The county will also use grant funds to purchase the AIMS Multimedia videos regarding basic life skills. Lastly, monies will be used to purchase laptop computers for use by Public Relations Deputies who participate in both school programs and public/media relations.

NCA/NCF