Technology Innovation for Public Safety Grant

The FY 2017 Technology Innovation for Public Safety (TIPS) Addressing Precipitous Increases in Crime is designed to enable strategic information sharing across crime-fighting agencies and with identified partnerships to address specific local or regional crime problems. This program is funded under the "reserved funds" section (42 U.S.C. section 3756(b)(1)) of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program. The "reserved funds" section provides that up to 5 percent of the funds available to carry out the JAG Program may be granted for one or more of the purposes specified at 42 U.S.C. section 3751 upon a determination that such a grant is necessary ‘to combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime. 42 U.S.C. section 3756(b)(1).

The City of Durham will use the BJA funds to improve the self-sufficiency of the Durham Police Department (DPD) Crime Lab, improve the quality and timeliness of forensic services, and help improve the clearance rates of cases involving forensic ballistic evidence for the DPD and the surrounding agencies served. CA/NCF