FY 2009 Justice Assistance Grant 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 Lexington Police Department will use Recovery Act JAG funds to purchase new technology that will assist officers in detecting and apprehending criminals. The three items to be purchased are in-car video cameras, an automatic license plate recognition system, and a Live Scan fingerprint station. The in-car video cameras will be used by patrol officers to document crimes in progress, provide documentation for court, and as a tool in use of force incidents and complaints. The automatic license plate recognition system will be used by officers to recover stolen cars and tags, highway drug interdiction, and to remove revoked drivers from the streets. The Live Scan fingerprint station will be used to fingerprint arrestees, provide applicant background identification, and immediate feedback in cases involving possible wanted persons and identity theft. These purchases will help officers be more productive and will help the Lexington Police Department obtain its overall goal of reducing crime and becoming more efficient.

NCA/NCF