City of Austin and Travis County 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 City of Austin and Travis County will receive grant funds under the Bureau of Justice Assistance FY 2011 JAG Local Program. As disparate jurisdictions, the City of Austin will serve as the fiscal agent to administer the JAG funds. The City of Austin will use their allocated share for the purchase of law enforcement equipment and supplies for new positions to increase police presence. The purchases will include officer uniforms, general issue equipment, guns/holsters, bicycles, tasers, and cartridges. Officers will be able to communicate with radios that are authorized, tested, and proven to operate on the GATRRS P25 radio system. The radios will be capable of multi-band interoperability as well as UHF range backward and forward compatibility. Equipment and supply purchases will allow the City to continue to build the capacity of its grassroots units (District Representatives, Walking Beat, and Bicycle) involved with street-level problem solving city-wide. Bicycle and foot patrols will enable the officers to have direct and constant contact with the community to engage in finding solutions to problems and deterring criminal activity.

The Travis County Sherriff's Office will use their share of grant funds for critical crime laboratory technology and to replace a mobile command post trailer. The Sheriff's Office will purchase a photographic identification management system with the goal of ensuring evidentiary protection of digital images. The police command vehicle trailer will be used to ensure emergency management of and situational awareness at critical incidents and planned events.

NCA/NCF