Public Safety 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 city of Miami Gardens, through the police department, will use the JAG award towards operational initiatives aimed at increasing public safety and crime prevention/reduction strategies. The initiatives include the following: 1) The Grinch Buster Program will provide a safe environment for holiday shoppers throughout the city. The goal of this program is to reduce robberies, thefts, and auto thefts; 2) The All Out initiative will be used by the police department as a way of saturating problem areas using a multifaceted approach. During the initiative, personnel from the Investigations and Operations Divisions will work together to address a particular area for issues ranging from violent crime to quality of life problems; 3) Overtime for police to work protracted and complex investigations; 4) The Operations Division will implement enforcement initiatives targeting truants and juvenile curfew violations in addition to special details targeting traffic enforcement and high visibility patrol; and 5) The Community Enrichment Team (CET) will conduct targeted enforcement based on bi-weekly statistical meetings which identify crime trends and patterns. CET will attempt to increase citizen participation in crime watch endeavors throughout the city of Miami Gardens.

NCA/NCF