Ronald E. Lampard, Director

In its role as the umbrella agency for criminal justice programs in District 7, the Community Justice Agency (CJA) oversees the application for federal funds allocated to local governments and agencies in the criminal justice system to help reduce crime and assist crime victims.

Under the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (LCLE), the CJA serves as the administrative agency for the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Planning & Action Commission (METLEC) and the Jefferson Parish Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) for application and disbursement of federal grant funds for District 7.

The CJA applies for and administers the disbursement of grant funds among criminal justice agencies such as the District Attorney, the Sheriff, the Coroner, several municipal police departments and area non-for-profits that assist victims of crime.  The CJA also serves as the local grant manager for similar agencies in the Parishes of Assumption, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Tammany and Terrebonne.

Each year the U.S. Congress allocates funds to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for various crime prevention programs.  DOJ reallocates those funds as direct grants or through state criminal justice agencies like LCLE to local governments which apply for them for specific programs.  The CJA monitors grant availability and serves as the reporting agency for grant funds spent in District 7.