Truancy Reduction and Crime Prevention Initiative

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).

The city of Stamford will use awarded JAG funding to sustain its Truancy Reduction Program and to initiate patrol walking beats in high crime and residential neighborhoods. The goals of the project are to reduce youth related criminal and gang activity and foster positive interaction between police and the community. The strategy of the Truancy Reduction Program is to engage truant and school resource officers in identifying high risk students who exhibit a problem with truancy. The truant team then conducts an intake assessment with the student, school officials and family members to determine the appropriate action to remedy the problem. Some common resolutions include: mentoring, counseling or referral to a service provider. The truant team closely monitors student progress to ensure that the truancy is not persistent. The anticipated outcome of the program is to curb truant behavior before it leads to serious criminal activity. The implementation of walking patrols in high crime commercial and residential neighborhoods are designed to prevent and deter crime through an increased police presence, visibility and accessibility to residents. The goal of walking patrols is to strengthen the police and community partnership. Both of these programs are integral components of the local crime prevention strategy. Grant funds will pay for officer overtime in the amount of $70,000 and supplies such as pens, pencils, copying paper and other general office supplies for use by the truancy case management team at a cost of $2,179.

NCA/NCF