Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $178,055)
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 county of Rockdale will use the Recovery Act JAG funds to support the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office. Rockdale County will purchase equipment to enhance law enforcement operations. They will purchase tactical raid vest covers for the Criminal Investigations Division. They will purchase a fuming chamber and vent fan for the forensic work station in the Crime Scene and Evidence Unit. The fuming chamber will protect investigators and the environment from the toxic effect of chemicals used to process latent fingerprints. Rockdale County will purchase speed detection devices (radar) for the Special Operations/Traffic Unit to be used in traffic enforcement operations. They will upgrade the crash reconstruction software to allow for dimensional reconstruction of serious and fatal crashes. Rockdale County will fund entry shields and dynamic entry packages for high risk entries conducted by the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT). The SWAT team requires rifle scopes for their weapons. Rockdale County will purchase tasers, a speed detection trailer, and a license plate recognition system for the Uniform Patrol Division. They will also purchase vehicle-mounted night vision goggles to provide critical visual information for deputies working in low light areas. Finally, the Training Unit will receive firing range system equipment. The Recovery Act JAG fund will promote public safety, officer safety, and the achievement of Rockdale County's overall mission of maintaining professional law enforcement service that prevents and investigates crime.
NCA/NCF