Local Enforcement Combatting Local Crime

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.

Lake County, Crown Point, East Chicago, Gary, Griffith, Hammond, Highland, Hobart, Lowell, Munster, Cedar Lake, and Merrillville are disparate and will share this Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $1,676,040 for critical law enforcement overtime and to purchase equipment to support critical law enforcement efforts. Lake County will be the fiscal agent for this award. Crown Point will use their share of the award funds ($10,708) for overtime and to purchase tactical gear. East Chicago will use their share of the award funds ($265,781) for overtime for police officers and to purchase two police cruisers. Gary will use their share of the award funds ($448,464) for overtime for key law enforcement positions, to purchase digital fire arm training system, auto systems, and three paperless commercial printers. Griffith will use their share of the award funds ($25,271)to purchase laptop computers, and officer's overtime. Hammond will use their share of the award funds ($414,840) to purchase two police cruisers, bulletproof vests, tasers, traffic cones, warning siren transformers, and smart board computers. Highland will use their share of the award funds ($28,056) to purchase cameras, tasers, and audio/video devices. Hobart will use their share of the award funds ($93,377)to address their aging communication system, radios, digital transcription system, mapping software, camera, tasers, ballistic shields, floatation vests, vehicle light bars, radar units, and bicycles. Lowell will use their share of the award funds ($9,637) to purchase gun locks, firearm holsters, and LED gun mounted tactical lights and monitoring equipment. Munster will use their share of the award funds ($17,990) for overtime and equipment to outfit their SWAT team unit. Cedar Lake will use their share of the award funds ($31,268) for tactical team outfitting and training, and to purchase radar unit and laptops. Merrillville will use their share of the award funds ($58,253) to purchase laptops, E-ticketing printers, an advanced 911 system, new light bars and radios. Lake County will use their share of the award funds ($272,395) to increase data capacity and salary ($67,042) a GMA assigned to the county sheriff's department.

NCA/NCF