Grants/Public Notices

Justice Assistance Grant – Public Notification

DATE: April 20, 2026
TO: The Citizens of Pinellas County
FROM: Sheriff Bob Gualtieri
SUBJECT: Justice Assistance Grant - Public Notification

I am taking this opportunity to inform you that the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office (PCSO), as the implementing agency for Pinellas County, and the St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD), as the implementing agency for St. Petersburg, are proposing to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining the amount of U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds each will receive.

The following information outlines details about the JAG, along with the County and City's proposed use of JAG funds.

Background:

The County of Pinellas, Florida (County), and the City of St. Petersburg, Florida (City), are local government entities listed on the FY2025 Units of Local Government List as eligible to apply for Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds.

It has been determined that the County and City have a disparate allocation of JAG funds, with the City scheduled to receive at least one and a half times more than the County, while the County bears more than 50% of the incarceration costs related to Crimes Against Persons reported by the geographically constituent units.

As a result of this disparate certification, the County and the City have agreed to submit a joint application for the full JAG funds totaling $190,948.00.

The PCSO, the County, and the City will sign an MOU to be submitted, as specified in the JAG Local Solicitation, to the Office of Justice Programs during the grant application process.

The County and the City have agreed to allocate $95,474.00 to each, the County and the City respectively. The County, through PCSO, will act as the applicant and fiscal agent, ensuring the application is made public via the agency's website. The PCSO will conduct risk assessments and oversee monitoring of subawards and contracts that distribute JAG funds, including those for the City on behalf of the County. The City will provide the County with information to help develop any fiscal and/or programmatic reports required for the JAG program.

Use of Funds:

The County, through PCSO, will use its FY2025 JAG funding allocation to replace the alignment rack and jack system at the Central District Station's garage. The current alignment lift is over 40 years old, and the alignment machine dates back to 2015. These tools are used daily to repair the Chevy Tahoes and trucks operated by agency members.

The City will use its funding to support and continue various SPPD crime-prevention and law enforcement programs. JAG funds will be allocated for overtime pay for police officers to focus on specific issues at designated locations and times within the City more effectively. Additionally, funds will be dedicated to maintaining and improving prevention efforts, including the Community Resource Centers, targeted social media campaigns, rental vehicles for special investigations, and volunteer programs supported by the department.