Louisiana FY 2012 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 Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement will use supplemental JAG funds towards a Wrongful Convictions Demonstration Project. Funds will be used to assist local law enforcement agencies through the purchase of modern recording equipment and related technology in an effort to guarantee properly conducted and accurately documented custodial interrogations. The project goal is to improve the chances for accurate convictions which would not be overturned by subsequent legal proceedings.

NCA/NCF

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 Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement will assist local law enforcement agencies in fighting and prosecuting crime by taking steps to reduce wrongful convictions. One specific step is the recording of custodial interrogations by law enforcement officials, to diminish the probability of false or coerced confessions. This will diminish the probability that subsequent and costly appellate processes (including DNA testing) would be necessary to ensure proper convictions for the guilty offenders. They will purchase recording equipment for law enforcement agencies to enable them to record custodial interrogations with the goal of reducing the incidence of wrongful convictions.

NCA/NCF