Law Enforcement Safety & Community Service Enhancements

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).

Durham County and the city of Durham have been identified as disparate and have agreed to share the aggregate of funds allocated to them through the Fiscal Year 2014 JAG program for law enforcement safety and community service enhancements. The City and County of Durham mutually desire to improve the quality of life for its citizens through the support of law enforcement programs impacting the delivery of crisis intervention and mental health response and by broadening community outreach. Additionally, the City and County desire to enhance safety of law enforcement officers and the public through the acquisition of critical tactical equipment. The proposed projects will: Build positive relationships with law enforcement and at-risk youth; Continue to build a collaborative community and police partnership; Acquire automatic external defibrillators (AED) to be used by law enforcement officers tasked with patrolling a community recreation trail; Reduce arrests, incarcerations and repeat 911 calls for mental health consumers by linking them to appropriate services; Maintain ballistic-resistant body armor; and acquire a critical safety upgrade to a bomb disposal robot. NCA/NCF