Bartow FY 2009 Recovery Act JAG 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 Bartow will use JAG Recovery Act award to support the Bartow Police Department (BPD). BPD will procure equipment that is critical to the success of reducing the growing number of property and personal crimes, and increasing apprehensions and prosecutions. The overall goal for this project is to enable the BPD to provide its services to the Bartow community in a safe and efficient manner. BPB will procure a Biometric Door Access System and replace or upgrade the police station doors to improve security and provide controlled access to different areas of the police station. They will replace notebook computers used by patrol officers and desktop computers used by sworn and non-sworn personnel. They will purchase a LCD Monitor for use when training police officers. BDP will replace or upgrade laser radar guns, rifles, and rifle cases. They will purchase an Evidence Bar-Code System to provide a new management system to track incoming and outgoing evidence. The JAG Recovery Act funds will improve law enforcement efficiency and enhance officer and public safety.

NCA/NCF