Forensic Recovery and Reinvestment

The Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program (Byrne Competitive Program) will help communities improve the capacity of state and local justice systems and provide for national support efforts including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address local needs. This competitive grant announcement focuses on initiatives in eight areas: 1) preventing and reducing violent crime through community-based data-driven approaches; 2) providing funding for neighborhood-based probation and parole officers; 3) reducing mortgage fraud and crime related to vacant properties; 4) hiring of civilian support personnel in law enforcement (training staff, analysts, dispatchers, etc.); 5) enhancing forensic and crime scene investigations; 6) improving resources and services for victims of crime; 7) supporting problem-solving courts; and 8) national training and technical assistance partnerships.

Under category 5, the city of Mansfield will use the grant award to retain three positions and stabilize budgetary issues to avoid reductions in essential services provided to the local community and the law enforcement agencies. The city will use funds to: restore analysis hours of current forensic evidence analysts to full-time; retain current DNA evidence analysts; restore the position of crime scene specialist that has been vacated due to layoff; and maintain quality assurance of critical equipment.

CA/NCF