FY 2009 Recovery Act Justice Assistance Grant Program

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 Justice Assistance Grant (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 Durango and La Plata County are disparate and will use their Recovery Act JAG funds to complete a Collaborative Tactical Equipment and Communication Support Project. A new records management system has been developed that offers regional agencies with the infrastructure to support mobile and remote access to integrated criminal justice information and allows for more effective and efficient law enforcement services to local communities.

The city of Durango will serve as the fiscal agent and funding will be used to purchase 24 laptop computers for use in patrol cars, ballistic vests, and helmets. The laptop computers are essential in supporting patrol efforts for both the police and sheriff departments. The new computers will allow interoperability with the new regional records management system. The tactical equipment will provide protection for the Durango Police Department Tactical Response Team, providing support to the Southwest Colorado Regional Drug Task Force.

NCA/NCF