FY13 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 program 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 Houston and county of Harris have been identified as disparate jurisdictions and will share this Fiscal Year 2013 JAG award. The city of Houston will serve as the fiscal agent and the Houston Police Department will use the city's share of funds on law enforcement programs, including technology improvements for law enforcement and overtime initiatives. The goals are to ensure the security profile of all systems being converged meet the minimum specifications of the Federal Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) requirements, provide oversight of all financial and programmatic activities for the Houston Police Department, provide a reduction in crime and reduce response times to calls for service. The Harris County Sheriff's Office will use its funding for video cameras, storage capacity enhancements and equipment. The goals will be to purchase video cameras for the jail to ensure the safety of inmates and staff, enhance storage capacity of video feeds and purchase equipment for the Constables patrol vehicles. NCA/NCF