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 disparate jurisdictions consisting of Navajo County and the cities of Show Low, Winslow, and Holbrook will use their Fiscal Year 2009 JAG award in the amount of $37,373 for needed equipment purchases. Each agency has conducted a needs assessment and identified certain equipment that would allow officers to be more efficient and safer in the field while conducting investigations. This equipment will also contribute to public safety. Show Low City, acting as the fiscal agent, will use their share of the JAG awards to purchase two in-car video systems and two moving radar units. These pieces of equipment will be placed into marked patrol cars to enhance the officers' ability to detect, investigate, apprehend, and prosecute traffic violations. The camera systems will also help ensure evidence quality video and/or audio recording for a host of other crimes. The city of Holbrook will use their share of JAG funding to purchase twenty sets of voice recorders, binoculars, towing hitches, and digital cameras. These items will be issued to every officer for use in all facets of police investigations. Binoculars will be used on patrol to observe criminal activity from a distance. The voice recorders and digital cameras will be used during a variety of investigations to provide evidentiary quality photos of crime scenes, victim injuries, and collision scenes.

The city of Winslow has completed a new building and will use their share of JAG funding to purchase a number of items geared towards enhancing their training function. They will fully furnish a training room, thus allowing the officers to participate in webinars, view training videos, conduct formal classroom training, and other related activities. The items to be purchased include tables, desks, computers, white boards, a projector set-up, and TV monitors for a new training facility.

NCA/NCF