Mult-Jursdictional Interoperability and Equipment Replacement

This grant program is authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) (the 'Recovery Act') and by 42 U.S.C. 3751(a). The stated purposes of the Recovery Act are: to preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery; to assist those most impacted by the recession; to provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health; to invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits; and to stabilize state and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state and local tax increases. The Recovery Act places great emphasis on accountability and transparency in the use of taxpayer dollars.

Among other things, it creates a new Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board and a new website ' Recovery.gov ' to provide information to the public, including access to detailed information on grants and contracts made with Recovery Act funds.

The JAG Program funded under the Recovery Act is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. Recovery JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system, from multi-jurisdictional drug and gang task forces to crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives. Recovery JAG funded projects may address crime through the provision of services directly to individuals and/or communities and by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of criminal justice systems, processes, and procedures.

The city of Auburn, the city of Opelika, and Lee County will use Recovery Act JAG funding in the amount of $313,280 to support separate criminal justice initiatives. The city of Auburn, through the Public Safety Department, Police Division, will apply its share towards the purchase of multi-band mobile radios that will provide needed multi-jurisdictional communication interoperability with surrounding jurisdictions. The city of Opelika Police Department will use its funds to replace old interoperable radios in police vehicles. Lee County, through the Sheriff's Office, will purchase in-car video cameras that will replace outdated equipment. The city of Auburn will serve as the fiscal agent for this award, and in doing so will track grant funds by creating a separate project account for all grant expenditures and draw downs.

NCA/NCF