Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2008, $156,511)
The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program (Byrne Discretionary Program) helps local communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and provides for national support efforts. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 08 Congressional Budget. Funds should be used for purposes recommended by Congress.
Johnston County will utilize their Fiscal Year 2008 Congressional Mandated funds to install video surveillance cameras on as many school buses as possible in order to prevent crime and to increase the safety of students and drivers. The project is a continuation of an inter-agency collaboration in the district. The project links these agencies together and makes it easier on law enforcement and the court system, and increases convictions due to the consistency in the process. The school district will continue to work with local law enforcement, the state highway patrol, district attorney's office, and other agencies in order to provide a uniform and consistent response to crimes involving school buses. The project will initially target buses in areas that have a high incident rate as determined by the district. Buses targeted to transport behaviorally at-risk children and in areas with high gang-related activity will be the first to receive the video surveillance systems. The district's Transportation Services Department has made a commitment to install these devices on all new buses that are purchased in the future. Video surveillance will greatly increase the number of drivers law enforcement officers can charge with criminal offenses which in turn will send a strong message about the importance to stop for school buses when they are loading or unloading students.
NCA/NCF