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.

The city of Cincinnati will use Smart Policing funds to target street robberies that have occurred in the one-mile corridor connecting the neighborhoods of East and West Prince Hill. Traditional approaches to reducing robbery in this target area have failed to prevent additional incidents from occurring. Through the grant, offender, victim, and geographic data will be analyzed to develop a comprehensive problem-solving strategy aimed at reducing robberies. In addition, the integrated method of problem analysis will serve as a model for solving future criminal cases. Specific grant funded activities will involve the support of police officer salary associated with assignments to gather and analyze data, the purchase of intelligence and analysis software that will provide a case database to store, retrieve, and visualize all case intelligence collected, and a contract for program evaluation.

CA/NCF