Virginia Byrne Justice Assistance Grant

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 Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) will use JAG funds to implement projects that are designed to respond to the priority issues identified through a statewide criminal justice planning process. Focus groups comprised of criminal justice practitioners and representatives of related agencies affected by the criminal justice system were convened in eight regions of the state to identify problems and issues facing the system and recommend responses. The results of that process were used to determine the priority areas to be addressed with FY 2011 JAG funds. Among them are coordination and information sharing, drug enforcement and treatment, crime and delinquency prevention, anti-gang efforts, offender reentry, and improving the criminal justice system's response to persons with mental illness.

NCA/NCF