M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Mayor and Town Council
From: Rafael G. Casals, Town Manager
Date: January 21, 2014
Re: Fiscal Year 2015 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG): Cutler Bay Crime Education & Prevention Program
REQUESTTitle
A resolution of the mayor and town council of the town of cutler bay, florida, accepting a fISCAL yEAR 2015 edward byrne memorial justice assistance grant (Jag) award in the amount of $6,176; AUTHORIZING the TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE THIS GRANT, AND PROVIDING FOR an effective date.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Funding Source: FY15 Florida Department of Law Enforcement - Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
Grant Title: Cutler Bay Crime Education & Prevention Program
Amount Awarded: $6,176 Match Required: $0
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program (42 U.S.C. 3751(a)) 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.
On December 15, 2014, the Town submitted a grant application requesting funding on behalf of the Cutler Bay Policing Unit. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has allocated $6,176 for the Town of Cutler Bay for law enforcement services.
The Cutler Bay Crime Education and Prevention Program is a newly established program that will provide individualized on-site Safety Surveys for local residents and business owners.
During the first quarter of 2014, four (4) of the Town's Police Officers attended the Florida Crime Prevention Training Institute. Over the course of a three month period the officers attending training in "Basic Crime Prevention", "Residential Crime Prevention" and "Commercial Crime Prevention" and earned the "Crime Prevention Practitioner Designation" in March 2014.
In August 2014, the Town was awarded Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding ($13,261) from the United States Department of Justice. This funding will be used to compensate officers for overtime hours dedicated to conducting the on-site Safety Surveys for local residents and business owners.
Proposed Program (FY2015 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant)
Funding from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement ($6,176) will be used to purchase tablet computers for use by members of the Police Department's Neighborhood Resource Unit (NRU) when conducting the safety surveys and other crime prevention presentations throughout the Town. Additionally, the Town will develop and print educational/promotional material specific to this new program.
The NRU officers will be able to view presentation material, create reports, and provide community residents and business owners with information upon request (i.e. community resources, important contact information, etc.).
· On-site Home/Business Safety Surveys include;
· One-on-One Consultation with a certified officer.
· Review of property (exterior and interior).
· Conducting a Computer Security Survey (including cybercrimes, cyberbullying, and malware).
· Review of security system and hardware
· Provide an assessment of the general vulnerabilities of the premises and recommend specific security/safety procedures.
· Marine Crime Prevention (if applicable)
· Auto Theft Prevention (if applicable)
· Workplace Violence (for commercial businesses)
· Electronic Access (for commercial businesses)
· Prevention of employee theft (for commercial businesses)
· Construction Site Security
· Robbery Prevention
NRU Officers will complete the safety surveys on-site using the tablet computers and provide immediate feedback to residents/business owners via email. This will make officers more efficient because they will not have to complete the surveys manually first before returning to their office to type the report and then providing it to the property owner.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the attached resolution be adopted, authorizing the Town Manger to execute Fiscal Year 2015 FDLE - Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) in the amount of $6,176.