Town of Vinton Recovery Act Justice Assistance Grant Program

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 town of Vinton will utilize their Recovery Act JAG award to support the Vinton Police Department. They will purchase, install, and upgrade emergency lights in police vehicles. The Vinton Police Department will receive blue side emergency lights, brackets, LED blue lights, star split phantom lights, and inner mount LED light bars. The goals are to address traffic violations, drug problems, burglary, vehicles break-ins, and vandalism in the community. The objective is to decrease the amount of crime due to stealth operations and increased traffic enforcement in heavy crime areas. The Recovery Act JAG funds will enhance public safety and help address problems within the neighborhoods and traffic complaints.

NCA/NCF