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 Harrisonburg will use its Fiscal Year 2009 JAG award for law enforcement equipment. JAG funds will be used to purchase sound ordinance meters to enforce recently enacted laws and an automatic license plate reader. Due to recent changes in the city of Harrisonburg's laws, the police department is responsible for enforcing new sound ordinance violations. The city will purchase five sound decibel meters, which were not in the original budget due to budget restraints in order to enforce and prosecute sound ordinance laws. The city of Harrisonburg Police Department will also purchase an automatic license plate reader and software. This equipment will allow police officers in patrol cars the ability to capture images of license plate numbers and instantaneously compare them with stolen vehicle records and those of wanted persons. Additionally, the system can be used to capture witness identification, placing suspects at the scene of a crime. The city and surrounding police departments currently do not have access to this helpful technology which would not be possible without JAG funding.

NCA/NCF