Title
District Attorney's Office and Sheriff's Office recommending the Board:
1) Review and make available for public comment the County’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 application for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program for funding in the amount of $21,733 to be expended between October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2027; and
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the FY 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program Certifications and Assurances after the 30-day review period for submittal by the Sheriff’s Office.
FUNDING: Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program provides states, tribes, and local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, technology improvement, and crime victim and witness initiatives and mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams. The grant performance period runs 24 months; however, entities are not able to apply for the funds until approximately 12 months into the performance period causing the assurances to be approved retroactively.
The Sheriff's Office received notification of the County's FY 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program award on July 31, 2026.
The Sheriff’s Office is requesting $10,866.50 to cover training costs for six staff members to attend the annual California Narcotics Officer Association (CNOA) Conference. This training offers numerous unique workshops covering evolving drug trends, informant management, human trafficking, social media investigations, and other relevant topics.
The District Attorney's Office is requesting $10,866.50 to cover training costs for three staff members to attend the California District Attorney Investigator's Association (CDAIA) conference. The CDAIA conference provides attendees comprehensive education on police legitimacy, procedural justice, and the role of the DA Investigator.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), does require that the County notify the Board and make available a copy of the application to allow any public comment regarding the application. Also, DOJ requires the submission of signed Certifications and Assurances by the Chief Executive of the Applicant Government and the Certification of Compliance with 8 U.S.C. § 1373 by County Counsel. The "Chief Executive" is defined as an individual who has authority to enter into agreements on behalf of the County, which in this case is the Board Chair.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to accept the grant funds leading the Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney to either utilize General Fund for trainings previously funded by the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant or staff could not attend the trainings.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Certifications and Assurances.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no Net County Cost for this program and no matching requirement. The grant application total is $21,733 from the Justice Assistance Grant funds with $10,866.50 for Sheriff's Office and $10,866.50 for the District Attorney's Office. Funding is included in the departments’ FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 budgets.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Return the signed Certifications and Assurances to the Sheriff’s Office for submission to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Undersheriff Eric Palmberg and District Attorney Vern Pierson