Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $30,096)
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 Hempstead and Waller County are disparate jurisdictions. The two jurisdictions will share the joint allocation amount of $30,096, and Waller County will serve as the fiscal agent.
The Waller County Sheriff's Office will use JAG funding ($11,753) to purchase office equipment and supplies. The sheriff's office will purchase computers for the office. The computers will be used for trade files containing images, movies, and other media of child pornography. They will also purchase two laptops that will be used by the investigators in the field. These laptops will be used to store applications that include online investigations and statements from victims.
Other equipment purchases of cameras, filters, transmitters, memory cards, card cases, digital voice recorders, goggles, and a hard drive will allow investigators to clear approximately ten percent more cases based on the new technology and equipment that was not available to them through current budgets.
The city of Hempstead will use its Recovery JAG award to purchase four hand-held radios and one video system. Funding will be utilized to make communications and technological improvements and enhance the delivery of law enforcement services for the city of Hempstead and Waller County.
NCA/NCF