Newark, Heath, and Licking County Safety and Communications Initiatives

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 Licking County and the cities of Newark and Heath will use their Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $81,050 to upgrade communications system and purchase equipment that will improve evidence collection and basic officer safety. The city of Newark, serving as the fiscal agent, will use $40,000 to replace its public safety communications infrastructure. The improved system will increase server capacity and support a wireless communications network. The city will also add a canine unit to the police department. The city of Heath will use $10,632 to provide officers with less-than-lethal technology to improve both officer and citizen safety. Licking County will use $30,418 to purchase and install video recording units in three patrol vehicles and purchase enhancements for a previously purchased Speed Monitor trailer and Rescue Phone.

NCA/NCF