Law Enforcement Initiatives

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 disparate jurisdictions of Abilene City and Taylor County will share this Fiscal Year 2009 JAG Recovery Act award. The city will serve as the fiscal agent to administer funds for both jurisdictions. Each entity will utilize grant funds for law enforcement equipment to enhance communication capabilities.

The City of Abilene Police Department will utilize Abilene City's portion of the award to replace current mobile video systems in its patrol fleet with digital systems in order to be in compliance with state law that requires law enforcement vehicles to be equipped with a video and audio recording system.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office plans to use Hariis County's portion of the award to fund officer overtime pay and equipment upgrades. Specifically, funding will enable the department to pay overtime for additional investigative tasks, replace aged leather gear, and standardize its handgun/caliber by purchasing new weapons for each officer.

NCA/NCF