DATE: December 9, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: John Zanoni, Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator
Kirk Haynes, Chief Probation Officer
SUBJECT: Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Agreement
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively approve and authorize the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator’s previous submittal of a grant application to the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) for the 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Equipment and Training Program effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026 ($797,235);
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive Grant Agreement with the Board of State and Community Corrections for the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026 ($797,235);
3. Adopt Resolution authorizing the Chairman to execute the Grant Agreement on behalf of the County of Fresno for participation in the 2025 JAG Equipment and Training Program administered by the BSCC, including any amendments thereof, with the understanding that grant funds shall not be used to supplant expenditures controlled by this Board;
4. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2025-26 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator’s Org 3111 in the amount of $500,000 (4/5 vote); and
5. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2025-26 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Probation Org 3432 in the amount of $297,235 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. To meet the grant filing deadline, the non-competitive grant application was previously submitted by the Sheriff’s Office in collaboration with Probation Department, contingent upon your Board’s approval. The Board of State and Community Corrections has awarded the County of Fresno $797,235 in grant funding to fund equipment and training for the Sheriff’s Office and Probation Department. The grant provides funding to strengthen law enforcement and probation operations by improving officer safety and reducing violent crime through essential equipment purchases and specialized training. The third recommended action adopts a Resolution authorizing the Chairman to execute the 2025 JAG Equipment and Training Program Grant Agreement, including amendments, ensuring funds do not supplant Board-controlled expenditures. The fourth recommended action adopts a Budget Resolution increasing FY 2025-26 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator Org 3111 in the amount of $500,000. The fifth recommended action adopts a Budget Resolution increasing FY2025-26 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Probation Org 3432 in the amount of $297,235. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved, the grant award will be withdrawn, and no equipment or training will be funded. This will leave existing operational gaps unaddressed, limit the Sheriff’s Office and Probation Department’s ability to improve officer safety, reduce violent crime, and coordinate effectively with partner agencies during critical incidents.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended Agreement was received from the Board of State and Community Corrections on October 7, 2025, and is retroactive to October 1, 2025. Subsequent time for processing delayed this item from being placed on an earlier Board date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The total grant award from BSCC JAG Equipment and Training Program is $797,235. Approval of the Budget Resolution will increase FY 2025-26 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Sheriff’s Org 3111 by $500,000, fully offset by grant. Approval of the second Budget Resolution will increase FY 2025-26 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Probation Org 3432 by $297,235.
DISCUSSION:
The Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Probation Department, submitted a non-competitive grant application to the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) to meet the filing deadline for the 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Equipment and Training Program. The BSCC has awarded the County of Fresno $797,235 in grant funding to support equipment purchases and specialized training for the Sheriff’s Office and Probation Department for the grant term of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.
The grant provides essential resources through the Fresno County JAG Law Enforcement Equipment and Training Program to strengthen law enforcement and probation operations by funding targeted equipment purchases and specialized training that enhance officer safety, improve operational effectiveness, and reduce violent crime, while addressing operational gaps and improving law enforcement response.
The Sheriff’s Office is using funding to close operational gaps by acquiring critical safety equipment, improving interoperability with partner agencies, enhancing evidence documentation, and expanding training focused on incident management, narcotics enforcement, and crisis intervention. This includes a fully outfitted mobile command post trailer and tow vehicle, providing a deployable, technologically equipped platform for coordinating responses to gang suppression operations, narcotics enforcement, and large-scale emergencies such as natural disasters or mass casualty events.
The Probation Department is utilizing its portion of funding to strengthen officer readiness and tactical proficiency through the acquisition of safety equipment and development of realistic, scenario-based training environments. Additional funds are supporting modernized firearms training and courses designed to promote accountability, preparedness, and safe, effective responses during critical incidents.
The third recommended action adopts a Resolution authorizing the Chairman to execute the Grant Agreement, including any amendments, with the understanding that grant funds shall not be used to supplant expenditures controlled by your Board. The fourth recommended action adopts a Budget Resolution increasing appropriations and estimated revenues in the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator’s Org 3111 by $500,000. The fifth recommended action adopts a Budget Resolution increasing appropriations and estimated revenues in the Probation Org 3432 by $297,235.
The recommended agreement contains non-standard language that requires that the County indemnify the State for all claims and losses in connection with the performance of the agreement and any person, firm, or corporation injured or damaged by the County in the performance of the Agreement. However, the Departments believe the benefits of entering into the recommended agreement outweigh the potential risks.
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with these actions. If the recommended actions are not approved it would result in the withdrawal of the grant award, leaving equipment and training unfunded while also limiting the Sheriff’s Office and Probation Department’s ability to improve officer safety, reduce violent crime, and coordinate effectively with partner agencies during critical incidents.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Application with Board of State Community and Corrections
On file with Clerk - Award Agreement with Board of State Community and Corrections
On file with Clerk - Resolution
On file with Clerk - Resolution Budget Org 3111
On file with Clerk - Resolution Budget Org 3432
CAO ANALYST:
Fine Nai