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).

The disparate jurisdictions consisting of Monroe County and the city of Rochester will use their FY 2010 JAG award in the amount of $338,643 to support salaries and equipment purchases. The Rochester Police Department, serving as the fiscal agent, will use $186,254 to cover the cost of one salary, reconnaissance robots, and administrative costs. Salary funding will cover a victim's services provider, responsible for attending multi-jurisdictional task forces representing the perspective and needs of victims. Five reconnaissance robots will be acquired and used by the Bomb Squad, S.W.A.T., and Hostage Negotiations. The robots will allow the department to avoid placing officers in dangerous situations and will also provide actionable information live, to guide on-site operations during an incident and provide tactical weaponry as needed. Monroe County will use $152,389 to cover the salary of three probation officers working in Project NightWatch. Project Nightwatch is run jointly by the Rochester Police Department and Monroe County Probation, allowing officers to visit probationers during evening hours. The non-traditional visit times allow for ongoing curfew checks and other field enforcement strategies meant to keep subjects contained within their homes during prescribed hours and off the streets.

NCA/NCF