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 New Haven, through the New Haven Police Department (NHPD), will use its Fiscal Year 2009 JAG award to support an Enhancing Law Enforcement and Community Policing Project. The main goals of this project are to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the NHPD in enforcing laws, maintaining public safety, and preventing crime. As the NHPD attempts to increase its sworn strength and fill vacant supervisory positions, these funds will be instrumental in providing equipment and training for a police force that has experienced a high-rate of attrition in recent years. The NHPD will use funds to provide specialized training for police supervisors who receive a promotion. NHPD will use this to increase the capacity of the department's motorcycle unit toward addressing the aggressive driving problems as a part of the city's overall initiative to improve safety on New Haven streets. These funds will allow the NHPD to recruit, equip, and train new members of the motorcycle unit. The NHPD will also use funds to reduce the level of youth gang violence in the city. The NHPD will contract for intervention services for at-risk youth and young offenders who will be referred by the police. The funds will also enable the NHPD to continue the Tactical and Administrative Strategies through the Crime Analysis (TASCA) problem solving model. The department's Crime Analysis Unit will gather data from the record management system and other sources, analyze the information, including the use of geomapping, in preparation for meetings held every three weeks with key department operational personnel from all shifts and law enforcement partners.

NCA/NCF