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When paramedics, fire fighters, and police respond to an emergency, the need to communicate with each other is vital. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. VIPER radio technology fixes this problem by allowing all of these agencies to communicate over one radio system. This capacity for multiple agencies to communicate on one system was deemed of great importance by the 9/11 Commission in its final report.

The Governor’s Crime Commission awarded the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety $5 million to increase VIPER bandwidth capacity. That way, local agencies will not have to re-invest in newer radio technology as frequently. Their equipment will work longer with VIPER, saving money in the long run. The NC Department of Insurance and the Town of Swansboro Police Department will also receive funding to help acquire VIPER-compatible technology.

The Mecklenburg County Criminal Justice Data Warehouse also received funding from the commission. The warehouse will allow agencies to aggregate and exchange data in order to make better decisions. The project also contributes to further integration of data between law enforcement agencies, which leads to increased public safety. In combination with advancements in VIPER technology, law enforcement will be able to work smarter and faster.

In an ongoing series, we’d like to continue highlighting Governor’s Crime Commission grant recipients. These federal funds are especially important this year in light of the economy, helping to support programs and initiatives from community groups, correctional agencies, and law enforcement agencies all aimed at keeping our communities safer.

The Statesville Police Department is putting their share of the grant money toward reducing gang violence. The Statesville-Iredell Gang Initiative will allow the department to hire two gang intelligence officers. Rather than simply attempt to reduce gang related crime on the street, these officers will be able to take a more strategic approach to decreasing the gang problem. SPD Assistant Chief Bill Halliburton remarked, “"It's not just patrolling around. We have a game plan. We have objectives and we have persons identified," he said. "Our department will be investing in smarter policing." (Mooresville Tribune, 6/3/09 <http://bit.ly/spdgrant>)

Job placement in the fiber-optic industry for 96 ex-gang members from Durham will be provided through a grant to the Fiber Optic Initiative of Triangle Citizens Rebuilding Communities. Counseling and training will be offered to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to living a crime-free life.

The Tarboro Teens Against Gangs (T.A.G.) program received funding for putting on weekly events that provide an alternative to gang life for teenagers. The Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor basketball and football games, and host dances for at-risk youth. The program’s partners include the Edgecombe Public Schools, local faith based organizations, and law enforcement agencies.

Last week, the Governor’s Crime Commission released its list of grantees, and we are incredibly excited to highlight a few grant recipients who will help the state improve criminal justice, services for victims, and juvenile justice. These organizations provide valuable services to the community and this funding will help them continue to do this important work.

One of these grantees, Mainstay, Inc. will receive funds that will go toward operating transitional housing for individuals and families who are victims of domestic violence. Transitional housing reduces homelessness and gives victims a way out of the abuse. The organization is in its 23rd year of serving as Henderson County’s domestic violence prevention agency, and operates the largest battered women’s shelter in Western North Carolina.

In line with Governor Perdue’s goal of reducing the number of repeat offenders, as demonstrated in the recently formed StreetSafe Task Force, Passage Home will receive funding to continue running Esther House, a transitional home for female ex-offenders that provides workforce development. Passage Home is a faith-based organization that has been serving Wake County for 17 years. Additionally, funding for the Adult Drug Treatment Court in Brunswick County will help reduce repeat offender numbers, and decrease reliance on social services. The court provides supervised, long-term substance abuse treatment to non-violent, drug- and/or alcohol-addicted offenders.

The Children’s Law Center of Central North Carolina will receive funding for their Advocates for Children in Domestic Violence program.  This project trains Wake Forest University law students to act as a Guardian ad Litem for children who are victims of domestic violence. Those students will then be able to assist with the center’s 80+ and growing number of cases, advocating for children in the courts in cases where there is evidence of domestic violence. The Children’s Law Center of Central NC is the only organization in Central NC to address children’s needs in these cases.