FY 2010 Smart Policing Program

This program is funded under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. The JAG Program (42 U.S.C. 3751(a)) is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The JAG Program authorization also states that "the Attorney General may reserve not more than 5 percent, to be granted to 1 or more States or units of local government, for 1 or more of the purposes specified in section 3751 of this title, pursuant to his determination that the same is necessary-(1) to combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime" (42 U.S.C. 3756).

The Smart Policing Initiative seeks to build upon the concepts of offender-based and place-based policing and broaden the knowledge of effective policing strategies. The most convincing research demonstrates that place-based or hotspot policing reduces violent crime and neighborhood disorder. This initiative addresses the need for effective policing that requires a tightly focused, collaborative approach that is measurable, based on sound, detailed analysis and includes policies and procedures for accountability. This grant program seeks to build upon data-driven, evidence-based policing by encouraging state and local law enforcement agencies to develop effective, economical, and innovative responses to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime within their jurisdictions.

Burglary continues to be a persistent crime in the city of Indio, with the number of reported incidents steadily increasing each year. Through the Smart Policing initiative, the Indio Police Department will target the growing trend through a multivariate analysis of crime statistics and demographic data. The data generated will identify potential "hot spot" areas of the city in which a greater number of burglaries may occur. Targeted enforcement and other prevention efforts will then be directed to the identified areas. A task force comprised of a crime analyst, patrol officers, detectives, a management analyst, and street level investigators will implement the project. Specific grant funded costs will include the salaries of those staff members, as well as the purchase of equipment needed to create maps and visual aids to plot "hot spot" areas. Consultant services to test and analyze the proposed research design, methodology, and data analysis will also be funded.

CA/NCF