On Monday, June 30, 2014, I served as a member of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Formula Grant (JAG) panel. The grants I reviewed with my fellow panel members were for the prosecuting attorney departments, police departments, and other agencies in Hawaii. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) instructed the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) State Administering Agency (SAA) to develop a statewide multi-year strategy for control programs that intend to ensure coordination and a more effective functioning of the criminal justice system. JAG is intended to supplement, not supplant, non-Federal funds that would otherwise be available for activities described under the JAG program.
Hawaii’s strategy includes supporting five federal JAG program areas. The five federal program areas are:
• Law enforcement programs,
• Prosecution and court programs,
• Corrections and community corrections programs,
• Drug treatment and enforcement programs,
• Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs.
JON RIKI KARAMATSU 