Enhancing the Safety of Law Enforcement and Community

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).

Forsyth County and the city of Winston-Salem have been identified as disparate and have agreed to share the aggregate of 2015 JAG funds allocated to them to enhance the safety of law enforcement and the community. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office will use its share of the funds to implement a body-worn digital camera program for sworn law enforcement personnel. This project will supplement the current use of in-car cameras by providing footage beyond the field vision of the in-car systems. The city of Winston-Salem will use their share of the funds to purchase a duel evidence drying cabinet and forensic evidence drying cabinets, which will reduce the time involved with drying evidence from crime scenes; an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) bomb suite for the bomb squad; pole cameras for surveillance, which will aid in long term investigations; and digital speed display signs in order to deter speeding and traffic accidents.

NCA/NCF