Staff Report

INDIANAPOLIS – More than $3 million in grants were awarded this week for crime prevention in Indiana, with seven area agencies receiving a share.

The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute awarded $3.3 million to 50 law enforcement and government agencies for public safety and crime prevention initiatives. The funding was provided by the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program through the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance.

The JAG program is the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. While funds can be used to support a broad range of activities, the program places emphasis on breaking the cycle of substance use and crime, combating violence, holding offenders accountable, reinforcing law enforcement efforts, supporting adjudication and enhancing technology and information sharing.

“Public safety challenges evolve over time, as do their impacts on society, which is why flexibility is an important part of this program,” said Andrew Rodeghero, ICJI Drug and Crime Control Division Director. “With this funding, we’re able to support an array of violence prevention and intervention strategies based on state and local needs.”

Local recipients include:

• Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office – $215,299 – for upgrading to a Phase 2 radio system county-wide.
• Pierceton Police Department – $57,757 –  for updating portable radio(s) and in-car radio(s) equipment as part of the county-wide upgrade to an 800MHz Phase 2 radio system.
• Town of Claypool – $49,804 – For updating the two in-car computers and four desktop computers that are currently outdated no longer supported by Microsoft.
• Winona Lake Police Department – $40,396 – for upgrading outdated portable radios and in-car radio equipment.
• Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office – $20,365 – For investigating drug trafficking, drug cultivation and drug manufacturing.
• Noble County Sheriff’s Department – $11,890 – for upgrading outdated in-car and body-worn camera hardware and software used for investigative and law enforcement transparency purposes.
• Goshen City Police Department – $34,602 –for updating the evidence department by purchasing two forensic digital cameras.