Walker County Law Enforcement Technology and Safety Upgrades

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.

Walker County Sheriff's Office will use the Recovery Act JAG funds to support the Walker County Law Enforcement Technology and Safety Upgrades project. The grantee will purchase updated equipment and technology to increase officer safety. The Walker County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency in this northwest Georgia County of approximately 64,000 people. It is the lead agency in the initial response and investigation of most crimes along with the enforcement of traffic laws. The department will purchase tasers, alco sensors, fingerprint kits, Durabook vehicle mountable laptop computers, Verizon wireless internet, vehicle laptop mounts, Canon copier/printer/scanner/fax and contract services for installation and operation. The equipment purchased will be appropriate to personnel who will be trained in its use. All officers will have access to all services provided. The objective of this program is to advance the ability of the Walker County Sheriff's Office to safely and more efficiently enforce the law, and the purchase and installation of these items is expected to increase safety and efficiency in the way that citizens are protected.

NCA/NCF