2024 JAG Program Budget - Law Enforcement Improvements

Published on October 10, 2024

City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County 2024 JAG Program Budget
Law Enforcement Improvements

Total Eligible FY 2024 allocation: $569,529.00

Each year, the City of Charlotte receives funds from the Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) administered by the U.S. Department of Justice. Federal FY 2024 JAG funding for the City of Charlotte, determined by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, will be $569,529.00. There is a requirement that grant funding only be used for law enforcement purposes. The legislation making the grant possible requires the city to share a portion of the funding with Mecklenburg County, given that the County is responsible for incarcerating offenders. As such, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) will allocate $85,434.00 of the FY 2024 funding to the Mecklenburg County Sherriff’s Office (MCSO). The CMPD’s share of the funding will total $484,095.00.

The CMPD applied for these JAG Program funds on October 10, 2024. Citizens can comment regarding the proposed FY 2024 JAG budget. Comments may be submitted to Research &Strategic Planning Manager, Morgan Parks either by email at Morgan.Parks@cmpd.org or by letter addressed to Morgan Parks, Manager, Research & Strategic Planning Division, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, 700 West 5^th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202.

The CMPD’s budget ($484,095.00) for JAG funding consists of the following three (3) components:

Police Cadet Program $303,834.00

The Cadet Program will provide 10 qualified students, actively enrolled in a local college, an opportunity to work in a professional, law enforcement environment, while learning about and training for future employment as a Police Officer with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. The program's intent is to enhance the participating student's knowledge of the CMPD and all operating aspects so that when the participant turns 21, he or she may enter a career as a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer. As Police Cadets work in different areas of the department, they will develop the necessary skills to make them the type of officer CMPD needs to be successful in its mission to prevent the next crime.

Police Cadets are assigned to various units within the CMPD, based on unit need. Students entering the program as freshmen may be assigned to tasks that may not require as much in-depth knowledge of the department's function as a more experienced student in the program.

Among other duties, Cadets:

Will receive extensive training in the use of department databases and reporting systems, Police Communications, Ethics, and Smith System Safe Driving techniques, among other training
Will be evaluated, according to attendance, grades, uniform, appearance, completion of work assignments, among other areas of work-based performance
Will maintain eligibility for full-time employment as a CMPD Employee

Crime Laboratory Overtime $7,752.00

Funds will be used for the analysis of forensic evidence in criminal cases designated as “priority” by the CMPD and to reduce periodic backlogs in evidence analysis. The funds will be used by the CMPD’s Crime Laboratory Division including DNA, Fingerprints, and Firearms. These include cases where police need to identify a suspect, establish links between cases or rapidly clear a high-profile case or series of cases which are creating fear in the community. The funds will also be used to reduce periodic backlogs in evidence analysis. The use of the overtime funding will be determined based upon the CMPD’s needs during the grant period.

Patrol Overtime $172,509.00

Patrol overtime funds are crucial to the success of the City of Charlotte’s crime reduction strategy. These funds will provide overtime for enforcement and problem-solving initiatives allowing patrol officers to address crime problems at the neighborhood level, including responding to emerging crime trends, identifying, and targeting suspects, chronic crime trends, and working with partners to address the enablers of crime. The funds will also be used to address drug and/or gang issues at the neighborhood level.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriff Office’s (MCSO) budget for $85,434.00 in JAG funding consists of the following four (5) components:

Detention Center Camera Upgrade $2,539.00

MCSO will purchase Detention Products to upgrade cameras in the Detention center. The upgraded cameras will enhance monitoring security.

Leadership Development Emotional Training $19,468.00

First Line Staff and Captains from MCSO will attend Leadership Development Emotional Training. The purpose of this training is to support the Sheriff Office by addressing critical decision-making skills such as self-awareness and emotional intelligence pertaining to law enforcement personnel. The training will focus on empowering officers/deputies to communicate effectively with the community, strategic decision making for officer/deputy safety and, aiding the community in understanding the responsibility of Sheriff Department personnel.

Retention and Recruitment Advertisement Campaign $42,720.00

MCSO will continue their advertising campaign that will highlight Detention Officer and Deputy Sheriff employment opportunities and the benefits that come along with them. MCSO will partner with an affiliate to run a series of digital advertisements developed in both English and Spanish for broadcast via the affiliate’s digital website and mobile application.

Sheriff Response Team Equipment $10,742.00

MCSO will purchase 15 Eotech Holographic Sight Reticle Patterns w/68 MOA Rings, 15 MAGpul PMAG 30RD AR/M2 Gen M2 MOE Magazines, 15 Blue Force Gear Vickers Push Button Sling Swivels, and 15 MAGpul RSA QD Rail Sling Attachments. This equipment will be necessary for early morning SRT operations such as warrant services to identify targets. This equipment will also provide deputy safety when entering occupied dwellings.

Traffic Enforcement Unit Equipment $9,965.00

MCSO will purchase 4 Road Flares, 4 Measuring Wheels, 4 Breakaway Vests, 4 License Scanners, 1 Lidar Stalker XLR, 12 Blood Specimen Kits, and 5 Stream Light Safety Wands. These items will support MCSO by assisting with the enforcement of traffic laws and the resolution of traffic accidents.