Grants/Public Notices

Justice Assistance Grant – Public Notification

DATE: September 16, 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 FY2026 Units of Local Government List as eligible to apply for Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funds.

The County and City have a disparate allocation of JAG funds, with the City scheduled to receive at least 1.5 times as much as 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 aggregate of JAG funds ($169,535.00).

The PCSO, the County, and the City will sign an MOU which will 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 $84,767.50 to the County and $84,767.50 to the City. The County, through PCSO, will serve as the applicant and fiscal agent and will ensure the application is made public through the agency's website. The PCSO will complete risk assessments and oversee monitoring of sub-awards and contracts that expend JAG funds, including the City, on the County's behalf. The City will provide the County with information to assist with the development of any fiscal and/or programmatic reports that will be required of the JAG program.

Use of Funds:

The County, through PCSO, will use its FY2026 JAG funding allocation to renew its Axon AI Assistant software contract. The technology will enhance public safety by providing real-time translation through body-worn cameras, improving communication with non-English-speaking and limited-English-proficient individuals, thereby promoting greater accessibility and trust. It will also streamline body-worn camera review, information retrieval, and documentation, enabling more efficient responses to public records requests, complaint investigations, incident reviews, and strengthening coordination with federal partners to improve communication, transparency, and accountability.

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 support and improve prevention efforts, including the Community Resource Center, targeted social media campaigns, rental vehicles for special investigations, and department supported volunteer programs.