FY 2009 Recovery Act JAG 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 city of Bonner Springs will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award to purchase Kustom Signals Pro Laser III lidar devices for use in patrol efforts to slow traffic and to record accident related information. The primary goal of this project is rigorous traffic enforcement utilizing lidar technology, which quickly records accurate vehicle speeds under a variety of weather conditions. As a secondary goal, when traffic accidents occur, application of the lidar devices, in conjunction with the Vista Pro Recon Plus software, will reduce the amount of officer hours expended on accident reports. Utilizing the radars and software, officers will not require extended traffic scene hours taking measurements by traditional means (tape measures or rolla-tapes). Mapping the scene will be as simple as the officer standing at a reference point, aiming the lidar at the desired object and recording the measurement. In addition, the Vista Pro software includes mapping and drawing tools that can be used by officers to diagram accidents. Ultimately, the police department will increase efficiency by reducing the amount of time devoted to accident reports and public safety will be enhanced as fewer speed-related accidents occur during peak traffic periods.

NCA/NCF