AACOG's Criminal Justice Planning department has been designated by the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division (CJD), as the responsible entity for regional criminal justice planning efforts for the thirteen-county area of Region 18. With the assistance of the AACOG Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (CJAC), the grant applications are reviewed and priorities are set for all criminal justice funding. Such priorities are established as the Regional Criminal Justice Plan and all CJAC grant recommendations are submitted to the Governor's Office for funding approval.