Law Enforcement Support 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 Warren was selected as the fiscal agent, and the jurisdictions agreed to the following allocations: Trumbull County, $108,045; Girard, $20,295; Niles, $41,620; Warren, $221,231; Howland Township, $8,236; Liberty Township, $10,589; and Warren Township, $13,971. Each of the entities has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to use funds to purchase needed equipment and/or hire and train personnel to further their mission of providing basic law enforcement services to their communities. The activities chosen by the county, cities, and townships not only align with the justice goals of the communities and the JAG program, they align with the efforts of the Recovery Act. Activities selected for this joint application will preserve and create jobs while promoting economic recovery in the county as funds will reduce the impact of the local financial hardship on the ability of local governments to maintain essential services. Trumbull County will use funds to purchase five police cruisers, and Girard plans to provide officer training, upgrade law enforcement technology (e.g. computers, radio system), and purchase other necessary equipment. Niles will use funds to offset the cost of needed law enforcement equipment, including tasers, an undercover transmitter, a computer, an evidence bar coding system and printer/scanner, and other equipment that will be used for emergency responses. Warren plans to re-employ 15 police officers that were laid off on January 1, 2009, and Howland Township will use funds for computer and necessary software to maintain a required and shared records management system. Liberty Township plans to purchase portable radios for officers, and Warren Township will upgrade and replace equipment in its police vehicles.

NCA/NCF