FY 2009 Justice Assistance Grant 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 LaPorte County and the cities of Michigan City and LaPorte will share the Recovery Act funds in the amount of $149,412 to purchase equipment and technology. Michigan City, serving as the fiscal agent, will use $106,831 to enhance their mobile data terminal (MDT) systems with wireless security cameras. The new equipment will target densely populated and high crime areas within the corporate limits of their city. The city of LaPorte will use $25,196 to purchase mobile radios, radio mounts, a computer server and software, and tasers. LaPorte County will use $17,385 to install technology equipment, which will provide greater coverage and reliability for law enforcement data communications. The funds will be used to install wireless equipment to allow MDT users access to information on their network as well as the internet.

NCA/NCF