FY 2011 DE 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 Delaware Criminal Justice Council (DE CJC)is the state criminal justice planning agency for Delaware and oversees the use of Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds in Delaware. Delaware's Byrne JAG strategy is developed with the assistance and direction of the Drug and Violent Crime Advisory Committee, a subcommittee of the Criminal Justice Council. The Drug and Violent Crime Advisory Committee sets the State's priority areas under Byrne JAG and determines which projects will best address those priorities. The DE CJC programs being funded in 2011 will be continuation programs that were funded in FY 2010 after a strategic planning retreat held by the DE CJC. These priorities focus in the area of (1) law enforcement, (2) case processing, and (3) corrections. Case processing includes the operations of the prosecution, defense, and court operations since all three together process cases from arrest through conviction. The corrections core includes correctional drug treatment and support for correctional and detention facilities and staff as well as re-entry and community services. Some of the priorities Byrne JAG funds sought to address with FY10 funds, and will continue with FY11, were violence and shootings in the City of Wilmington (Hot Spot overtime), specialized courts (Drug Court and Mental Health Court), sex offenders management (verification and notification), correctional officer retention and training, gang enforcement, and technology advances for the courts, law enforcement and the criminal justice system overall.

NCA/NCF