Law Enforcement Technology Upgrades

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 Big Spring and Howard County are listed as disparate jurisdictions on the FY 2011 JAG Local Allocation list. The City of Big Spring Police Department proposes the following projects under its portion of funds: (1) add an automated ticket writer to the department's records management system in order to assist officers in the field with current court information; (2) upgrade the current operating system to keep pace with newer programming; and (3) purchase a digital camera system for the crime scene unit, which processes scenes for the police department and the sheriff's department. The Howard County Sheriff's Department will purchase P25 portable radios to help comply with federal requirements.

NCA/NCF