FY 2009 Recovery Act JAG

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 disparate jurisdictions of Peoria City and County will share this Fy 2009 Recovery Act JAG award. Peoria City will receive $452,252, and Peoria County will receive $327,492. Peoria City will use their portion of the award to purchase a tactical operations vehicle. This vehicle is a high tech communications and command vehicle that also houses tactical weapons. A mobile Tactical Operations Center (TDC) is critical because it provides the department a means for a rapid response of well-trained and equipped officers to the scene of high-risk operations. The city will also purchase mobile/portable radios for the 800 MHz system. The new radio system will allow police personnel to communicate and coordinate with each other more effectively. Peoria County will use their portion of the award to purchase 77 M7200 Scan-Data Equipped Mobile Radios. These radios will allow Peoria County to improve its public safety radio system used by all local public safety agencies within Peoria County.

NCA/NCF