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 Philadelphia's Fiscal Year 2009 JAG award in the amount of $3,281,527 will be divided among various city agencies. The Philadelphia Police Department proposes to use funding under this grant for police overtime, rental vehicles that will be used in covert investigations, purchase of motor and pedal bikes, purchase of new desktop computers, printers, as well as expanding existing electronic scanning of police reports, statements, and evidence. The Recreation Department will utilize the funds to reduce violence in the city neighborhoods through afterschool and summer programs. The Department of Licenses and Inspections will utilize funds to fight urban blight. They plan to seal up vacant and abandoned buildings throughout the city of Philadelphia. The District Attorney's Office will use JAG funds to support their Public Nuisance Task Force (PNTF) that works to eliminate drug related nuisance locations such as crack houses, weed (marijuana) stores, and bars that function as fronts for drug sales and prostitution. The Drug Treatment Court will utilize the funds to continue the Philadelphia Treatment Court (PTC). The PTC represents a new effort to bring the criminal justice and substance abuse treatment systems to bear more effectively on the substance-abusing criminal justice population, through the central involvement and supervision of the criminal court. The Night/Quality of Life Court will utilize JAG funds to continue funding established neighborhood courts inside police facilities during the evening hours. With the assistance of volunteer judges, this program is responsible for the enforcement of laws relating to public intoxication, public urination, underage drinking, and disorderly conduct. The Mayor's Office on Re-Entry will utilize the funds to provide services to individuals returning from incarceration and seeking services. This program seeks to meet the critical needs of the ex-offender population and reduce recidivism by providing job training, placement and retention services, vocational training, job readiness training, mental and substance abuse intervention, and life skills development at one location.

NCA/NCF