Enhanced Law Enforcement Technology Equipment

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 Salem will use the Recovery Act JAG funds to enhance the Salem Police Department's law enforcement technology. A live scan fingerprint system will be purchased that will allow continued adherence to fingerprint submission requirements of the state's Criminal History System Board (CHSB). Funds will also be used to upgrade the Police Department's AFIX Tracker, allowing the department to increase the database of all subjects fingerprints and palm prints processed through the Salem Police Department. Remaining funds will preserve the services of the current part-time Fingerprint Expert who would otherwise be laid off on July 1, 2009. The city's goal is to have proper identification of individuals taken into custody, continue to stay in compliance with all state requirements, and enhance crime solvability rates through shared fingerprint resources.

NCA/NCF