Bannock County Area Law Enforcement Criminal Division Equipment 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 disparate jurisdictions consisting of the city of Pocatello, the city of Chubbuck, and Bannock County will use their Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $297,132 to support law enforcement, make equipment and vehicle purchases, and improve officer safety. The city of Pocatello will use their share for the purchase of ballistic vests which are essential to the safety of their officers, a canine for their Canine Program, and a police patrol vehicle to replace an old vehicle used by their detectives and patrol officers. The city of Chubbuck will use their share to purchase a patrol vehicle, ballistic vests, and other essential equipment that will enable officer safety and provide continuous service to their citizens and protect the safety of their officers and citizens. Bannock County will use their share to purchase tactical equipment and other essential equipment to promote officer safety and afford the department to be up to date on the latest technology-based crimes.

NCA/NCF