Facing the prospect of a budget agreement that could cut funding by $24 million for a critical grant program that helps police departments utilize body cameras and other innovative technology, U.S. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined 16 colleagues in calling for full funding of the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) program.
Last year, Virginia received $5,365,080 from the Byrne JAG Program.
“The dramatic cuts to federal law enforcement funding in the Republican budget are out of step with the needs of community policing efforts on the ground across America,” wrote the Senators. “Many state and local governments use these federal funding programs to test emerging approaches to public safety challenges, such as the use of body cameras by state and local police officers to document police interactions.”
More than 600 JAG recipients nationwide have used federal funding for police camera technology. This technology has been found to reduce the use of force by officers by as much as 60 percent, reduce citizen complaints by as much as 88 percent, assist in resolving complaints against the police, and reduce the likelihood of false complaints against the police.
In their letter to Senate Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran, the senators also requested full funding for the President’s proposal for a three-year, $263 million investment in body-worn cameras, expanded law enforcement training, and additional resources for police department reform.
In addition to Sen. Warner, the letter was led by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and signed by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Al Franken (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).
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