Item Description:
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Agmts PR00006795, PR00006798, PR00006799, PR00006800 and PR00006820 with the U.S. DOJ accepting $597,157 in FY 2024 JAG funding, 10/01/23-09/30/27; Agmts with the cities of Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis and Richfield for funding and administration, 10/01/23-09/30/27
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that Agreements PR00006795, PR00006798, PR00006799, PR00006800 and PR00006820 accepting $597,157 in FY 24 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice be approved for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2027; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the Agreements on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
The Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) was enacted in 2005. JAG allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and to improve the criminal justice system. The JAG fund distribution formula is based on population and reported violent crimes. While most of the funds are allocated to municipalities, counties may utilize grant funds if the county provides more than 40% of the costs of pre-trial detention and/or prosecution of violent offenders. JAG disparities are certified by the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), based in part by input from the state’s Attorney General. Hennepin County is a certified disparate agency and as such received a portion of the grant allocation.
The JAG program requires all eligible entities within each county to submit a joint application. Four municipalities in Hennepin County have been awarded 2024 JAG funds. Amounts shown are minus the 5% administrative fee award awarded to the county as the fiscal agent/administrator: Bloomington ($25,403), Brooklyn Center ($15,722.50), Brooklyn Park ($31,024.15), Minneapolis ($276,015) and Richfield ($10,912.65). Minneapolis received an initial allocation of $509,723, through the disparate justification provision, Hennepin County will receive a negotiated $238,079.69, which includes $29,857.85 in administrative funding. From the remaining four cities, through the disparate justification provision, Hennepin County will receive a total of $238,079.69, this includes $4,371.70 combined from the cities of Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park and Richfield for administrative funding. As required, Hennepin County will submit joint applications and will manage the grant on behalf of recipient jurisdictions. There is no match requirement for this award.
Hennepin’s share of the funds will be used in Community Corrections and Rehabilitation ($69,407.28) to support a Community Intelligence Agent in the Neighborhood Probation Unit as well as Probation Officer overtime and equipment. The County Attorney’s Office ($69,407.28) will be used to support the work of a Detective to improve evidentiary information gathering and successful prosecution of alleged felony complaints. The Sheriff’s Office ($69,407.28) will be used to support a Criminal Intelligence Analyst in the Investigations Unit to eliminate drug trafficking organizations. The administrative fund will be used in County Administration ($29,857.85) to provide supplemental funding for county justice integrations. Supplemental Appropriations are not needed at this time as expenditures have been included in the 2025 budget and will be included in 2026 budget submissions.
Disparity Reduction Impact:
This board action request aligns with Hennepin County’s disparity reduction efforts by providing improvements to the justice system and supporting services.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval