Neighborhood Crime Prevention and Technology Upgrade Initiatives

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 the city of Grand Rapids and Kent County will use their JAG award in the amount of $260,420 for law enforcement and crime prevention initiatives. The city of Grand Rapids will serve as the fiscal agent and use their share of funds ($143,231) for costs associated with administering this grant award and to partner with local neighborhood associations to increase neighborhood safety through community organizing and crime prevention activities. Crime prevention activities will include organizing block clubs and neighborhood watch, conducting home security surveys, and preparing and distributing crime alert materials. Kent County will use their share of the grant ($117,189) to pay for upgrades to the Sheriff Department's in-car video system, which will include video retention and uploading servers and software. The equipment will retain and index valuable patrol car video to be used in the prosecution of criminal and civil offenses as well as being available to augment internal investigations. In addition, the existing wireless upload network will be augmented to facilitate the automated upload of patrol video, and a portion of the DVRs installed in patrol cars will be replaced as existing equipment is nearing the end of its sustainable lifespan.

NCA/NCF