Legislation Details

File #: 26-2919    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Grant Status: Passed
File created: 4/30/2026 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 5/14/2026 Final action: 5/14/2026
Title: Request by the Sheriff's Office for approval to submit a joint application with the City of Houston to the U.S. Department of Justice for grant funds in the amount of $1,430,968, with no required match, for the FY25 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG).
Attachments: 1. FY 2025 JAG application.pdf

Primary Department: Sheriff

Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Ed Gonzalez, Sheriff

 

Secondary Department: N/A

Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Grant - Application

 

Project ID (if applicable):

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): U.S. Department of Justice/City of Houston

 

MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):

MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):

Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal:  N/A - Goal not applicable to request

 

Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 5%

Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Rate is not 0% and is listed above.

 

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):

title

Request by the Sheriff’s Office for approval to submit a joint application with the City of Houston to the U.S. Department of Justice for grant funds in the amount of $1,430,968, with no required match, for the FY25 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). 

end

 

Background and Discussion:

The Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) provides formula funding to eligible units of local government to, in general, support hiring additional personnel and/or purchase equipment, supplies, contractual support, training, technical assistance and information systems for criminal justice or civil proceedings. Harris County and the City of Houston will share the FY25 JAG, according to a previously approved agreement in which each jurisdiction receives 50% of the funding. The City of Houston will act as the fiscal agent for the grant.

 

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office will use the grant funds to purchase equipment, such as computer hardware and software and a chemical detection system for the Jail, as well as for overtime costs for the Special Victims Division.  In keeping with historical precedent, 25% of the grant amount will be allocated to the Constables.

 

 

Expected Impact:

Grant funds will enable the Sheriff’s Office and the Constables to purchase needed law enforcement equipment and to work overtime hours to reduce case backlogs.

 

 

Alternative Options:

Not applying for this grant would mean forfeiting the opportunity to receive these grant funds. There were no alternative options identified.

 

 

 

County Strategic Plan Goal:  1. Make Harris County safer and more just.

County Strategic Plan Objective: A: Reduce violent crime across the County.

Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):  Choose an item.

Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2):  Choose an item.

Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.

Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.

Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.

Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.

 

Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:

 

Prior Court Action (if any):

Date

Agenda Item #

Action Taken

 

 

 

 

Location: Countywide

Address (if applicable):

Precinct(s): Choose an item.

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

FY 2025 JAG

 

 

Current Fiscal Year Cost

Annual Fiscal Cost

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

Recurring Expenses

Funding Sources

 

Existing Budget

 

 

 

 

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Total Existing Budget

$

$

$

$

Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form)

 

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Choose an item.

$

$

$

$

Total Additional Budget Request

$

$

$

$

Total Funding Sources

$

$

$

$

Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only)

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

No. of Grant Years

Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item.

$

$

$

4

Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item.

$

$

$

 

Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total)

$169,565

$1,261,403

$1,430,968

 

Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s)

 

Current Position Count for Service

-

-

-

-

Additional Positions Request

-

-

-

-

Total Personnel

-

-

-

-

 

County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only)

CAO Reviewer Name and Title

 

CAO Review Completion Date

Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Anticipated Court Date: 5/14/2026

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Brian Schmitz, Grants Manager, Sheriff’s Office

 

Attachments (if applicable): Grant Application