Law Enforcement Equipment and Technology Improvements

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.

Paulding County will use the Recovery Act JAG funds to support the Paulding County Sheriff's Office with the Equipment and Technology Improvement Program. The goals for the program are to: (1) update the equipment and technology that the deputies need to effectively perform their duties and (2) send deputies to training where they will be educated on the latest criminal and technological trends so they can implement what they have learned in the communities. The Paulding County Sheriff will use the funds to purchase a variety of equipment to enhance the Sheriff's Office effectiveness in the dangerous situations in which they are called to respond. The equipment will be used to improve the capability of the Sheriff's Office so that they are able to continue to respond to any possible terrorist or domestic threat. The equipment which will be purchased with grant funds will fall into several categories: (1) personal protective equipment; (2) communications equipment; (3) surveillance equipment; (4) computer equipment; (5) education and prevention equipment; (6) training; and (7) patrol/warrants/K-9 equipment. In addition, the funds will be used for attendance at the Georgia Gang Investigators and the Georgia Tactical Officers conferences.

NCA/NCF