Technology, Training, and Equipment Deployment

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.

Darlington County will use the Recovery Act JAG funds to support the Darlington County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) with the hiring of a trained explosive technician and purchase of necessary equipment. With the deployment of an array of new equipment, patrol officers, and investigator staff can become more proactive in crime prevention in Darlington County. Through the use of a trained explosive technician, efforts to educate the community about suspicious packages and potential explosive threats will increase. This newly obtained equipment and trained individual will aid the Darlington County Sheriff's Office, its municipalities, and citizens in an effort to enhance the implementation of the community policing ideology. Over the course of the grant period, Darlington County and its municipalities expect to see a noticeable reduction in the violent crime rates. With the grant funds, the DCSO plans to meet the following objectives: (1) decrease the DUI and speed fatality rates over the next three years; (2) decrease the amount of violent crimes by focusing on location, eradication, and incarceration of violent offenders in Darlington County; (3) increase public awareness of suspicious packages and potential threats; (4) increase officer safety and ability to respond with proper equipment; (5) increase security within the department; (6) improve radio communications equipment for increased coverage; and (7) increase filing efficiency in the corrections division.

NCA/NCF