Law Enforcement and Corrections Improvements

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 Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have been identified as disparate and have agreed to share the aggregate of funds allocated through the Fiscal Year 2014 JAG Program to build safer communities and better prepare inmates to make life changes that will decrease their chances for recidivism. The City of Charlotte will use funds for their overtime project which will: target patrol efforts in neighborhoods and address emerging crime problems and drug/gang activity; as well as fund overtime for the Crime Lab, which will aid in more efficient processing of evidence in priority cases. The City will also continue to fund the Police Cadet Program, which provides college students with exposure to police work while they perform tasks that do not require a sworn officer. Mecklenburg County will use its portion of the funds to strengthen learning opportunities for inmates through the purchase of books for the inmate library, computer equipment for classrooms located at jail facilities and supplies and tools for vocational programs offered to inmates. The ultimate goal is to reduce repeat criminal offenses by the inmates who participate in these jail-based educational opportunities. NCA/NCF