The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control drug trafficking, drug related crime, and violent crime. Based on their own local needs and conditions, agencies are provided with the flexibility to prioritize and place justice funds where they are needed most.
JAG funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice for any one or more of the following purpose areas:
- Law enforcement programs
- Prosecution and court programs
- Prevention and education programs
- Corrections and community corrections programs
- Drug treatment and enforcement programs
- Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs
- Crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation)
- Mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs
- Implementation of state crisis intervention court proceedings and related programs or initiatives, including but not limited to – mental health courts, drug courts, veterans courts and extreme risk protection order programs
In South Carolina, the Office of Highway Safety and Justice will give priority consideration to the following initiatives:
- Law Enforcement Programs that focus on at least one of the following:
- Officer recruitment and retention
- Crisis intervention/mental health/suicide prevention
- Drug/Gangs/Violent Crime Enforcement
- Training/Equipment
- Prosecution and Courts Programs that focus on one of the following:
- Specialty courts
- Training for prosecutors to more effectively prosecute specialized crime cases
- Gun, violent crime, and gang prosecution
- Court technologies
- Prevention and Education programs that focus on at least one of the following:
- Substance abuse prevention
- Domestic violence
- Gun violence
- Multijurisdictional task force programs
- Mental Health and Related Law Enforcement/Corrections Programs that focus on at least one of the following:
- Evaluation and assessment of mental disorders
- Officer wellness/suicide prevention
- Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training and support
Allowable expenses include:
- Personnel
- Equipment
- Supplies
- Contractual support
- Training
- Technical assistance
- Information systems for criminal justice, or civil proceedings, including for any one or more of the authorized program areas.
All expenditures must be related to the implementation of an actual program. This program must be defined in the program narrative sections of the application.