Summary The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), has issued a program for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2016 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. The JAG Program blends the previous Byrne Formula and Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) Programs to provide agencies with the flexibility to prioritize and to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions. JAG funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support and information systems for criminal justice. Local units of government receiving JAG funding have the flexibility to implement projects in any of the seven federally approved purpose areas as follows: 1) Law enforcement programs; 2) Prosecutions and court programs; 3) Prevention and education programs; 4) Corrections and community corrections programs; 5) Drug treatment programs; 6) Planning, evaluation and technology improvement programs; and 7) Crime victim and witness programs.
FDLE anticipates an award from the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) in JAG funds, in which $101,727 will be allocated for use by all units of government within Alachua County. As a condition of participation in this program, the units of government in each county must reach a consensus concerning the expenditure of these funds. This consensus must include the projects to be implemented as well as the agency responsible for implementation. Additionally, each county must document this consensus by submitting letters from at least 51% of the units of government which also represents at least 51% of the population located in said county - hence forth referred to as a 51% letter. On Tuesday, July 12th, 2016, the Edward Byrne Memorial Grant Advisory Council, comprised of officials from the various local law enforcement and other government agencies within the county, met to discuss the allocation of JAG funds for Alachua County. A request for funding was submitted on behalf of the Alachua Police Department for the purchase of equipment (computers for patrol vehicles) in the amount of $11,400. The funding request was approved by the council, and the distribution of funds was agreed upon and approved unanimously.
The next step in the process is for the department to complete an online application using FDLE's grant management system; online submissions must be done by 5:00PM, Friday, August 26th, 2016. In addition to the online submission, two (2) hard copies of the grant application, with original signatures, must be submitted to FDLE, Office of Criminal Justice Grants, by August 31st, 2016. The department will be notified if the application is approved and funds are awarded.
Note: The Alachua Police Department has also been allotted $2,000 under a Problem Oriented Policing project. These additional funds will be applied for by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, as the project administrator, and earmarked for our agency to utilize for overtime salaries for sworn personnel in relation to special details targeting street level narcotics activities. | | |