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 Waltham will use its Fisacl Year 2009 JAG award in the amount of $13,039 to purchase a digital fingerprint system for the police department. The Waltham Police Department will purchase, install, and utilize a livescan digital fingerprint system that will comply with the FBI image quality specifications. With the introduction of this system, prints taken from a suspect held by the Waltham Police Department can be checked in a matter of hours instead of taking several days or weeks. Digital fingerprinting expedites the process of booking a criminal, saving the officers' hours per individual arrest. Utilizing digital fingerprinting is not only expedient, it also offers greater accuracy in indentifying criminals. Training on the new system will also be provided.

NCA/NCF