CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA-Local law enforcement and the State of Iowa received Department of Justice grants designed to better serve the community, enhance transparency, and support prevention and intervention efforts.
The Cedar Rapids Police Department (CRPD) and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office were jointly awarded an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant for fiscal year 2016. The $50,045 grant will be shared equally between the two agencies. The CRPD is committed to strengthening its partnership with local and federal prosecutors by conducting thorough investigations. The grant will be used to enhance existing surveillance and technology equipment and will benefit both investigative efforts and bring clarity to evidentiary matters in court proceedings. The Sheriff’s Office better serves the greater Cedar Rapids community by having the ability to timely respond to, and report on, potential criminal activity. The grant will be used to outfit patrol vehicles with up-to-date mobile equipment, which will improve efficiency and accuracy in responding and reporting.
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The JAG Program provides states and units of local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement; prosecution and court programs; prevention and education programs; corrections and community corrections; drug treatment and enforcement; crime victim and witness initiatives; and planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs.
The State of Iowa’s Criminal and Justice Planning Agency (JJAC) received a grant from the Formula Grants Program under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act in the amount of $412,161 for fiscal year 2016. JJAC will use the grant to enhance priority areas such as: evidence-based practices; support gender equality in justice system services; continue to work on a reduction in the disparate number of minority youth involved in the juvenile justice system; and collaborate with local and state initiatives to address mental health and substance abuse issues for justice involved juveniles.
The Formula Grants Program supports state and local delinquency prevention and intervention efforts and juvenile justice system improvements. The Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, a component of DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs, accomplishes its mission by supporting states, local communities, and tribal jurisdictions in their efforts to develop and implement effective programs for juveniles. The office strives to strengthen the juvenile justice system’s efforts to protect public safety, hold justice-involved youth appropriately accountable, and provide services that address the needs of youth and their families.
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, Kevin W. Techau, stated, “These grants support the common federal, state and local goal of strengthening law enforcement capabilities, enhance transparency, and strengthen the goals of community policing."
Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
