Kern County FY 2012 JAG (Target Gang) Project

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 County of Kern proposes to utilize the FY 2012 Justice Assistance Grant award to fund one Deputy District Attorney assigned to the Vertical Prosecution Program. Vertical Prosecution has shown to improve conviction rates, reduce victim trauma, and provide more consistent and appropriate sentencing. The goals of the program are: (1) Agency Coordination; (2) Resist Pre-trial Release;(3) Reduce Plea-Bargaining; and (4) Increase Sentence Length. Additionally, the concentration of resources to specific offenders enhances the ability to remove perpetrators for a longer period of time and establishes a deterrent model that serves to reduce the incidence of these crimes. NCA/NCF