Alamogordo Department of Public Safety JAG Project

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 Alamogordo will use FY 2009 Recovery Act JAG funds to purchase necessary supplies and upgrades that have been cut due to budget shortfalls. Proposed purchases include five sets of tasers for school resource officers, 20 uniform jacket replacements for police patrol officers, five LED light bars for patrol units, five radios, and five patrol unit video systems called ICOP for two patrol units and three school resource officers. Additionally, one DVD video system for the crime scene unit will be purchased to provide video documentation for interviews of victims, witnesses, and suspects in the field. Fourteen digital cameras will be purchased for patrol and detective divisions to upgrade aging cameras for evidence collection. Crime prevention supplies, such as neighborhood watch fliers and signs, will allow the city to continue community policing activities. The goal of this project is to acquire these needed supplies to stay up-to-date and provide proper tools for the city's public safety officers.

NCA/NCF