FY14 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 Harris County have been identified as disparate jurisdictions and will share the Fiscal Year 2014 JAG award. The city of Houston will serve as the fiscal agent and use its portion to fund civilian positions within the Houston Police Department Information Services. Information Services personnel provide essential support in implementing computer systems deployed across the Law Enforcement Department. The project goals are to ensure the security profile of all systems being converged will 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; and provide a reduction in crime/reduce response times to calls for service.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office will utilize its portion of funds to install servers/criminal intelligence data sharing for a Real-Time Crime Center; provide evidence processing equipment for the Crime Scene Unit; provide tactical and protective equipment/training for the Special Response Group; and provide shelters for the Canine Unit. NCA/NCF