Law Enforcement Improvements

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 disparate jurisdictions consisting of Mecklenburg County, the city of Charlotte, and the town of Huntersville will use the JAG award in the amount of $940,519 to support law enforcement initiatives, technology upgrades, and overtime. The city of Charlotte, serving as the fiscal agent, will use $696,931 towards officer overtime, sky watch towers for officer use, and crime analysis equipment. In addition, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department will continue to work with at-risk youth to prevent their involvement in juvenile crime through a new Culinary Arts Program in the Police Activities League and a summer camp for participants in Right Moves for Youth. Mecklenburg County will use $232,310 to purchase audio-visual equipment for the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, as well as enhanced audio and visual components for the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office Arrest Processing Center. The town of Huntersville will use $11,278 to purchase surveillance equipment for undercover officers and will enhance officer safety though the purchase of rifles for patrol officers.

NCA/NCF