FY 2013 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 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 Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) will use the FY 2013 JAG funds to support programs with an emphasis on evidence-based practices. Ohio's major metropolitan areas have organized to form Regional Planning Units (RPUs) for the purpose of more adequately addressing the local needs of their justice systems and developing their own strategic plan. The RPUs will be responsible for selection of the planning group members and will employ a community engagement model. These regions will build on an extensive array of planning bodies already in existence. This program involves OCJS and the RPUs working together in the grant review process fund regional programs, which meet the needs of the respective areas. Members of the RPUs attended the OCJS strategic planning conference and provided input that will be taken into consideration while finalizing the strategic plan. OCJS' proposed project activities include law enforcement; crime prevention; adult and juvenile corrections, community corrections and reentry; courts, defense, prosecution and victim services; and cross-agency and cross-system collaboration and training.

NCA/NCF