FY 2009 Recovery Act 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 city of Bryan is disparate with the city of College Station and Brazos County. The city will serve as the fiscal agent to administer the Fiscal Year 2009 JAG Recovery local allocation on behalf of the three jurisdictions. Each entity will utilize JAG funds to support law enforcement programs via the procurement of law enforcement related equipment.

The city of Bryan Police Department will procure networked video cameras to monitor various high-risk locations, critical infrastructure, and roadways. The police department will also purchase DNA testing equipment to increase property clearance rates.

The city of College Station will purchase a video enhancement system to increase the evidentiary value of video recordings due to poor lighting or focus; call review software to allow the department to automate the process of locating and reviewing telephone calls and radio traffic; evidence storage building for efficient and effective storage of evidence; automated fingerprint identification system replacement computer in order to decrease the duration of latent fingerprint search time; directional message board; patrol rifle sights; handheld thermal imaging unit; SWAT radio headsets; and crowd control equipment.

Brazos County will procure marked patrol vehicles for sheriff's personnel and a bar coding system to help maintain an accurate evidentiary inventory.

NCA/NCF