Maine Department of Public Safety Byrne JAG FY15 Application

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 Maine Department of Public Safety is the State Administering Agency for the JAG Program and will utilize 2015 funds to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, with emphasis on controlling drug-related crime. The majority of Maine law enforcement agencies are small. Therefore, Maine law enforcement officials must be innovative and work collectively and in collaboration with neighboring communities and other criminal justice agencies to solve common crime problems. Based upon limited funding amounts, three priority objectives have been identified for JAG funding including Statewide Multi-jurisdictional Drug Task Force and Prosecution support, Local Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Initiatives and Evidence-based programs and promising programs. These priorities have been developed through a deliberative consultative process. The Maine Justice Assistance Council, the advisory board established by executive order, includes stakeholders representing the criminal justice community in Maine and works to establish priorities that reduce crime and violence.

NCA/NCF