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).

The city of Morristown and the Hamblen County will use their Fiscal Year 2009 JAG award to enhance police response and safety. The city of Morristown will use their portion to purchase two refurbished police patrol cruisers. The newly purchased vehicles will provide officers with safer and more efficient police cruisers to perform patrol duties and respond to calls for service. Hamblen County will use their share of JAG funds to obtain in-car digital video recording. The camera will be used to enhance the prosecution of DUI and drug interdiction cases as well as traffic offenses. The goal of both entities is to provide officers with safe police cruisers for call responses and to increase officers' ability to investigate and solve crimes with the help of in-car digital video systems.

NCA/NCF