FY 2010 Justice Assistance Grant Program

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) allows states and units of local government, 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).

Franklin County and the cities of Columbus, Gahanna, Reynoldsburg, and Whitehall will use JAG funds to support multiple criminal justice and law enforcement initiatives. Specific grant funded activity will include the enhancement of fingerprint identification systems; the support and expansion of re-entry service coordination in the Franklin County jail; and the purchase of cameras to be housed in patrol vehicles and cameras to detect vandalism at area schools and businesses. Staff training and the salary of a prosecutor and officer overtime associated with community outreach and targeted policing efforts will also be supported. Remaining funds will be distributed as competitive sub-grants for community based crime prevention and education projects. For grant administration purposes, the county will serve as the fiscal agent for this award. In this capacity, the county will use a portion of funds for costs associated with the management and oversight of the grant.

NCA/NCF