2024 JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT

The City of Bradenton Proposed Plan for the Fiscal Year 2024

Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Formula Program

Public Comment & Plan Availability Period: September 20, 2024 - October 20, 2024

Posted to City’s Webpage: September 20, 2024

Governing Body Notified of Grant Opportunity: September 17, 2024

Governing Body Consideration for Adoption: October 9, 2024

Application Submission: October 21, 2024

Table of Contents

Overview

The City of Bradenton Proposed Use of Funds

Program Narrative

Budget Narrative and Budget

Detail Budget

Review Narrative

Public Advertisement as to Plan Availability for Public Comment

Appendix

Overview

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to states and units of local government. Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) will award JAG Program funds to eligible local government units as described in this FY 2024 JAG Program Local Solicitation (BJA will issue a separate solicitation for states).

City of Bradenton Proposed Use of Funds

The City of Bradenton proposes to use its fiscal year 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) formula program funds to purchase one (1) Forensic Data Extraction Software and eight (8) Rapid ID Fingerprint Units.

Program Narrative

The City of Bradenton is located along the west-central coast of Florida. The Bradenton Police Department has an authorized police force of 132 officers dedicated to serving a community of approximately 60,000 residents, with an average of more than 3 million visitors to the Bradenton area each year.

The Bradenton Police Department proposes using the FY 2024 Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds to purchase (1) forensic data extraction software license and eight (8) Rapid-ID systems.

The Bradenton Police Department continues confronting crime and violence within the city. Purchasing and deploying new technologies will greatly enhance our ability to conduct thorough investigations. To strengthen our investigative capacity and improve our ability to solve complex digital crimes, we are applying for Byrne JAG funding to purchase specialized software that enables the extraction and recovery of deleted data from computers and mobile devices.

In today’s digital age, criminals increasingly rely on sophisticated methods to conceal their activities, including intentionally deleting incriminating information. This advanced software will allow us to retrieve vital evidence that would otherwise remain hidden, significantly enhancing our ability to investigate cases involving fraud, cybercrimes, human trafficking, drug-related offenses, and other serious criminal activities. This tool will be invaluable in bringing justice to victims and holding offenders accountable.

As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance public safety and streamline law enforcement operations, we also seek Byrne JAG funding to purchase eight (8) Rapid ID fingerprint units. These devices will allow our officers to quickly and accurately identify individuals in the field by scanning fingerprints and cross-referencing them with local, state, and national databases.

The ability to instantly verify a person's identity is crucial during routine traffic stops, arrests, and investigations, particularly when dealing with individuals who lack proper identification or attempt to provide false information. By using Rapid ID technology, our agency will be able to improve the efficiency of our operations, enabling officers to make informed decisions faster and more effectively while in the field.

The need for these devices is especially critical in high-crime areas where swift identification can prevent escalating situations and assist in apprehending individuals with outstanding warrants or criminal backgrounds. Rapid ID units will also enhance officer safety by providing real-time information, ensuring they are fully aware of the risks posed by individuals they encounter.

Furthermore, these units can expedite the identification process for individuals who may be victims of human trafficking, missing persons, or those in need of urgent assistance. By equipping our officers with these advanced fingerprint identification units, we will be better positioned to serve our community, improve response times, and increase the overall effectiveness of our law enforcement efforts.

Florida and the City of Bradenton have seen the population grow, and the department must possess the necessary resources to leverage emerging technology to direct such resources efficiently and effectively. The equipment listed in this proposal is essential to enhance the ability to identify deleted digital evidence and lead to successful prosecutions. Additionally, this technology will allow officers to quickly identify individuals in the field who may not possess identification or are attempting to conceal themselves from law enforcement.

This technology will augment our ability to conduct criminal investigations and positively identify individuals they encounter. The Bradenton Police Department will continue to work collaboratively with our community partners to strengthen community policing, reduce the fear and incidence of crime, and develop safe communities for our residents. The purchase and implementation of the forensic data extraction software and Rapid ID units will afford the police department the ability to analyze and recover hidden or deleted data, provide evidence for prosecution, identify individuals in the field, and expand our ability to locate wanted persons.

This grant proposal aims to meet the JAG requirements by providing equipment to enhance law enforcement programs and aid in the successful prosecution of criminals. After the program, data will be summarized, compared, and reported as required by the Department of Justice. The Bradenton Police Department is confident that we can fulfill this proposal as we seek to reduce crime and raise the quality of life for our stakeholders.

Budget Narrative and Budget

Equipment

1. Forensic Data Extraction Software

Additionally, we seek Byrne JAG funding to acquire eight Rapid ID fingerprint units to significantly enhance our department's ability to quickly and accurately identify individuals in the field. These portable devices allow officers to capture fingerprints and instantly compare them against local, state, and national databases, providing real-time identity verification. When individuals lack proper identification or provide false information, Rapid ID units can quickly confirm or refute their identity, enabling officers to make faster, more informed decisions. This technology will be invaluable in streamlining the identification process during traffic stops, arrests, and investigations, improving overall operational efficiency, and reducing the need for time-consuming trips to booking stations.

Rapid ID units are critical for our department’s work in high-crime areas where quick identification can prevent dangerous situations from escalating. The ability to verify a person’s criminal history or outstanding warrants on the spot greatly enhances officer safety by alerting them to potential threats in real-time. These devices can also help identify individuals involved in human trafficking or other crimes where victims may not have traditional forms of identification. Additionally, by providing accurate and immediate identification, Rapid ID units can reduce the likelihood of detaining innocent individuals, ensuring that officers focus their resources on those who pose a genuine threat to public safety.

Moreover, implementing these Rapid ID fingerprint units will improve our department's overall effectiveness and enhance public trust. The community will benefit from a more responsive and accountable law enforcement presence by reducing response times and ensuring the swift apprehension of individuals involved in criminal activity. In addition, these units will contribute to more efficient case processing by ensuring accurate identification from the outset of an investigation. This advanced technology aligns with our department's goals of leveraging cutting-edge tools to improve policing and promote safer communities. Investing in these Rapid ID units empowers our officers with the tools they need to operate more effectively and protect their community.

The cost of the eight (8) Rapid ID fingerprint devices is $15,446.

Total JAG Fiscal Year 2024 Equipment Costs: $24,941.

Detail Budget

Total JAG Allotment $24,941

Equipment

Forensic data extraction software $9,495
Rapid ID fingerprint devices (8) $15,446

Total Equipment Cost $24,941

Leveraged Funds $0

Total Fiscal Year 2023 JAG Budget $24,941

Review Narrative

The proposed plan was provided to the governing body for review on September 17, 2024, and will be considered by the City Council on October 9, 2024. The application will be submitted to the Department of Justice on October 21, 2024. Public comment will be allowed during the public hearing considering the plan adoption on October 9, 2024, during a regularly scheduled City Council meeting. The plan will be available for public review and comment 30 days before submission, beginning on September 20, 2024.

The following timeline will be followed during this application process:

Public Notice Advertisement: September 20, 2024
Public Comment & Plan Availability Period: September 20, 2024 to October 20, 2024
Posted to City’s Webpage: September 20, 2024
Governing Body Notified of Grant Opportunity: September 17, 2024
Governing Body Consideration for Adoption: October 9, 2024
Application Submission: October 21, 2024

The proposed plan will be available to the public via the City's webpage, www.cityofbradenton.com, and is available at City Hall and Bradenton Police Department.

Public comment will also be allowed during the public hearing considering the plan adoption on October 9, 2024, during a regularly scheduled City Council meeting. Any comments will be forwarded to the DOJ for review.

City of Bradenton

ADVERTISEMENT NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY & NOTICE OF CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD

The City of Bradenton has received notice from the U.S. Department of Justice of its proposed allocation of the $24,941 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program (A maximum of 10% of the funds may be used for planning and administration).

The City's proposed plan identifying how it intends to use these funds will be available for public review at the following locations:

City of Bradenton webpage - www.cityofbradenton.com
City of Bradenton - 101 Old Main Street, Bradenton, FL 34205
Bradenton Police Department - 100 10th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34205
Bradenton Police Department webpage – www.bradentonpd.com

Citizen comments will be received from September 20, 2024, through the close of business day, October 20, 2024. The City Council will conduct a public hearing and consider adopting the recommended application during the October 9, 2024, City Council meeting commencing at 8:30 AM. All comments received during the citizen input period will be forwarded with the grant application submittal to the Department of Justice.