Law Enforcement Programs - Prevention and Education

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 2015 JAG funds allocated to support law enforcement programs impacting the delivery of crisis intervention and mental health response and broadening community outreach. Durham County will use their share of the funds to purchase automated external defibrillators for deputies, which will allow the department to intervene in life threatening incidents and provide critical service to patients before EMS responds; a latent fingerprint identification system, which will allow the Sheriff’s Department to assume the responsibility of analyzing their own prints in-house; and to purchase supplies in support of their Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) program. The city of Durham will use their share of the funds to support their Mental Health Outreach program (MHOP) and the police department’s Drug-Free Jr. Bulls Club. The MHOP is a prevention and intervention initiative which focuses on causes of crime such as substance abuse, mental health issues and other factors. JAG will fund the salary and operating costs of a Care Coordinator, whose role is to work with investigators on crisis intervention calls and triage/facilitate the delivery of services needed for stabilization of mental health consumers. The Drug-Free Jr. Bulls Club Program creates a fun and easy environment for parents and officers to talk to kids about drugs.

NCA/NCF