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 court programs.
- Corrections and community corrections programs.
- Drug treatment and programs.
- Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs.
New Hampshire uses the majority of its Byrne JAG funding to support the statewide Attorney General's Drug Task Force. The Attorney General's Drug Task Force is comprised of state, county and local law enforcement officers all working together to improve public safety by reducing the availability of illegal narcotics. In the course of targeting illegal narcotics, a host of other crimes arising from the pursuit, acquisition, distribution and use of illegal narcotics, are also reduced. These funds benefit the entire state and not just one region.
The statewide Drug Task Force is a program that targets illegal narcotics activities from the Canadian border to Massachusetts and from Maine to Vermont. While other regions conduct similar activities, the Drug Task Force is the only organization that combines state, county and local officers, all in the same organization, working throughout the entire state. The Drug Task Force provides investigation and training to state, county and local law enforcement agencies.
JAG funds cannot be used directly or indirectly for security enhancements or equipment for nongovernmental entities not engaged in criminal justice or public safety. Additionally, JAG funds may not be used directly or indirectly to pay for any of the following items: