Charlotte, NC 2016 JAG Project

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 2016 JAG funds allocated to build safer communities and provide enhanced services to the public. The city of Charlotte will use their share of the funds for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s (CMPD) Cadet Program and overtime for the CMPD’s Crime Laboratory staff and patrol officers. The Cadet Program will provide 15 qualified students, enrolled in a local college, an opportunity to work in a law enforcement environment, while learning and training for future employment as a CMPD Officer. The program's intent is to enhance a Cadet’s knowledge so that when the participant turns 21, he or she may enter into a career as a CMPD Officer. Overtime will be used for the analysis of forensic evidence in criminal cases designated as “priority” and to reduce periodic backlogs in evidence analysis including DNA, Fingerprints, and Firearms. Additionally, overtime funds will be used for enforcement and problem solving initiatives allowing patrol officers to address priority crime problems at the neighborhood level, including responding to emerging crime trends, identifying and targeting suspects, and working with partners to address the enablers of crime. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department (MCSO) will address problems through the purchase of three AFIS LiveScan machines to provide non-criminal fingerprinting services and the programming and installation of a communications terminal for dispatch personnel. The new AFIS machines will replace older models and are capable of submitting fingerprints electronically to the NC SBI. MCSO’s communications project will add an additional MC7500 Dispatch Console to the current dispatch center, which will increase dispatch personnel’s ability to respond to citizen requests for service.

NCA/NCF