Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $41,481)
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 Bemidji will utilize their Recovery Act JAG funds to purchase an in-squad computer and technology system and software accessories for the city police department. The acquisition and installation of the mobile technology system will be used in marked squad cars while officers are on patrol. This will provide the officers the necessary mobile communication technology needed in order for them to have essential information in a timely manner, which in turn, will allow them to respond to citizen complaints and emergency situations in a timely manner. By using modern policing techniques and equipment, the city of Bemidji Police Department believes that this will allow them to better serve the citizens of their community.
NCA/NCF