2009 Technology Improvement 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.

Carroll County will use the Recovery Act JAG funds for the 2009 Technological Improvement Project. The Carroll County Sheriff's Office will use the grant funds to upgrade technology to provide a more efficient and safe department. Specific responsibility for overall coordination rests with the Training and Support Services Unit. This unit will utilize past records of offenders and property tracking to compare against data collected after implementation of equipment designed to assist in more efficient offender and property accountability. The grant funds will be used to purchase network server equipment, a computer tracking system, storage for in-vehicle camera data, equipment upgrades to allow for electronic archiving of documents, two devices for electronically archiving documents for the detention center and the uniform reporting section, seven laptop computers and three desktop computers, two stationary cameras for the intake area of the jail facility, security camera for administrative building's public entrance and parking area, 32 less-lethal shotgun units, 10 less-lethal tasers, electric powered emergency cart for the training facility, and a multi-media first aid kit and an Auto Electric Defibrillator device. In addition to the purchase and installation of equipment, funds will be allocated to administer training for personnel in use of the purchased equipment.

NCA/NCF