Laredo JAG Recovery Act Grant

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 Laredo and Webb County are listed as disparate jurisdictions under the FY 2009 JAG Recovery Local allocation list. The City will serve as the fiscal agent to administer the JAG Recovery funds for both jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction will utilize grant funds to purchase needed law enforcement equipment for officer safety and for enhanced communication and search capabilities.

The City of Laredo Police Department will utilize its portion of funds to equip officers with the following items to be used for officer protection: rifles, rifle vehicle mounts, tasers, and ammunition; provide officer training in specialized areas of the department; purchase COMPSTAT software and other GIS (crime mapping) applications to pinpoint criminal hotspot activity; and purchase uniforms and learning materials for citizens participating in the department's new citizen police academy.

The Webb County Sheriff's Office will procure Segway transportation systems with accompanying accessories. This equipment will help contribute to the enhancement of the department's community policing initiative in the local downtown area, keep the outer perimeter of the county jail secure, provide additional police presence, and increase security detail mobility in the downtown area.

NCA/NCF