City of Midland - 2009 JAG Equipment and Technology Acquisition Midland County - Tactical Team Support and Training

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 Midland and Midland County are listed as disparate jurisdictions on the FY 2009 Recovery Act JAG local allocation chart. The city will serve as the fiscal agent to administer the JAG Recovery funds for both jurisdictions. Each entity will utilize funds for law enforcement equipment and activities.

The city of Midland Police Department will incorporate a crime view component into its computer-aided dispatch and records management systems. This will be achieved via the procurement of one CrimeView software package. CrimeView will help increase crime awareness and prevention efforts by enabling citizens to receive near real-time information on crime incidents. The city's entire allocation will be utilized towards the cost of the software.

The Midland County Sheriff's Office will equip its tactical team with needed protection gear and supplies, such as bulletproof vests and helmets, body armor, training supplies, and ammunition. In addition, funds will support officer training in advanced special weapons and tactics and domestic violence prevention.

NCA/NCF