Homestead Fights Organized Crime Project

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 Homestead will use the 2009 JAG funds towards overtime and equipment purchases. Through these funds, five specialized detectives who work Special Investigations and/or Vice, Intelligence, and Narcotics will spend 31 hours per month following up on crime tips, conducting surveillances, working with Federal and state agencies on identifying the criminal element, and on developing a response to this criminal element. In addition, funds will be used for digital cameras, which will be used to document criminal activity, photograph subjects in order to assist in identifying who they are and/or what organization they are tied to, and to share photos with partnering law enforcement agencies. One button-screw camera will also be purchased and utilized during surveillance activities in order to record activity at a close level in order to document and identify the criminal element.

NCA/NCF