2009 Local Solicitation - Anderson County Sheriff's Office 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.

Anderson County will use the Recovery Act JAG funds to provide non-expendable equipment for the Sheriff's Aviation, Forensic, and Patrol Units. This equipment will enhance the Aviation Unit's ability to locate and track persons by purchasing a dual-sensor airborne forward-looking infra-red imaging system (FLIR) system which will allow tactical flight officers to locate and track subjects at night or in foggy, low-light conditions. The Sheriff's Office will also replace existing worn and out-dated video equipment with new video hardware and software, supplement existing Class-A uniforms for all patrol officers, and purchase additional fuel for their Bell helicopter.

NCA/NCF