The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant awards will allow police departments in Clay Township, Chesterfield Township, and Port Huron, as well as the St. Clair County Prosecutors Office, to improve by engaging in Technology Enhancement Projects. Technology enhancement projects allow departments to make significant strides in the development of technological advancement in criminal justice procedures, according to the release provided by the Michigan State Police. These projects enable officers to convert voice to written text reports on a department computer, purchase body cameras and an external hard drive device and equip patrol cars with new radar units that contain video interface.

The Chesterfield Township Police Department will use their $24,000 in funds to purchase mobile computers and docking stations to enhance the department’s mobile in-car computing capabilities.Chesterfield Township Sgt. Jim O’ Connor said the grant will help the department make significant upgrades to their computer systems. The department will own 11 new Gamber-Johnson docking stations because of the grant.

The Saginaw Valley State University Department of Public Safety has been awarded $22,046 to purchase in-vehicle cameras for installation inside five patrol cars. Gov. Rick Snyder announced on Tuesday, April 9 that a total of $1.2 million will be distributed to public safety departments across Michigan as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.

Out of 42 agencies to receive the Byrne JAG funding, the SVSU Police Department is only recipient within Saginaw County. According to a statement released by Gov. Snyder's office, the grant funding will be used to "strengthen anti-drug and crime fighting efforts" within the state.

Two North Alabama cities received state grants to buy digital fingerprinting equipment. Police departments in Athens and Hartselle were each awarded $15,000 grants from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, Gov. Robert Bentley's office announced last week. Athens Police Department will use the funds for a child's digital fingerprint scanner, according to city spokeswoman Holly Hollman.

Two Southwest Michigan communities were among those in Michigan awarded federal funding tofight crime, according to a news release from Michigan State Police. In Portage, authorities will use a $50,000 grant to purchase an integrated, location-based crime- and traffic-crash data analysis system.The analysis will help the department determine how to efficiently deploy law enforcement resources to reduce crime and traffic crashes in specific areas.

The second local agency, Michigan State Police's S.W.E.T. - Southwest Enforcement Team -- was awarded $154,025 to target mid- to upper- level narcotics traffickers. S.W.E.T. is a multijurisdictional cooperative effort designed to fight drug problems in eight counties, with teams made up of police officers, a prosecutor, and administrative staff.

Criminal justice agencies across Michigan are getting $1.2 million in federal grants to strengthen anti-drug and crime-fighting efforts. The funding was announced today by Gov. Rick Snyder and the Michigan State Police. The grants come from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program and are focused on technology enhancements. Agencies receiving funding have until July 31 to spend the money. A list of awards is posted online. Byrne JAG grants are named in honor of New York City police Officer Edward Byrne, who was fatally shot in 1988 on orders from a drug dealer.