THE FOUR MUNICIPALITIES THAT WILL BE RECEIVING THE FUNDS ARE HIGH CRIME AREAS. THE PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED TO INCREASE SURVEILLANCE OF CRIME HOT SPOTS AND PROVIDE SAFETY MEASURES TO COMBAT AN EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE. VIOLENT CRIME IS A CONSTANT IN THESE COMMUNITIES AND MANY POLICE OFFICERS ROUTINELY WORK SIGNIFICANT OVERTIME HOURS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS, BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND VISITORS TO RECREATIONAL/ENTERTAINMENT VENUES. DELAWARE COUNTY, PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF CHESTER, BOROUGH OF DARBY, UPPER DARBY TOWNSHIP, AND YEADON BOROUGH, WILL USE THE JAG FUNDS TO ENHANCE LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS WITHIN THOSE COMMUNITIES BY SUPPORTING ALL COMPONENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SPECIFICALLY BY INCREASING OVERTIME AND MANPOWER HOURS TO INCREASE THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITIES AND THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE. THE PROGRAM WILL ALLOW THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO EVALUATE THEIR EQUIPMENT NEEDS TO SYSTEMATICALLY REPLACE OLD AND OUTDATED EQUIPMENT AND TO CONTINUE THE CONTRACT FOR ACCESS TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS TO INTERFACE WITH THE COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. THE SAFETY OF THE POLICE OFFICERS IS A HIGH PRIORITY IN THE COUNTY AND AFFORDING THEM THE USE OF NEW AND IMPROVED EQUIPMENT IS A BENEFIT TO THEM AND THE COMMUNITIES. THE STRATEGY FOR THE JAG FUNDING IS TO INCREASE QUICKER RESPONSE TIME TO HELP CITIZENS AND TO PROVIDE OFFICERS WITH BETTER COMMUNICATIONS ACCESS TO INFORMATIONAL SYSTEMS WITHIN THE COUNTY, THE STRATEGY IS ALSO TO INCREASE MANPOWER FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROJECTS TO KEEP CITIZENS SAFE.