Upgrading Law Enforcement Equipment and Technology

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 Bay County and the city of Bay plan to use their Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $103,210 to enhance officer training, upgrade records systems as mandated by state requirements, purchase equipment and technology that will improve officer safety and expand the capabilities of the law enforcement agencies, and aid in traffic enforcement and improve accident investigation. The city of Bay will use its portion of the funds ($51,605) to purchase a speed monitoring trailer, upgraded body armor for officers to replace outdated and obsolete units, and equipment and supplies to better manage evidence collection and storage. Bay County will use it portion of the funds ($51,605) to purchase a replacement patrol vehicle for which local funds are not available and upgrade the agencies records filing system to meet required standards.

NCA/NCF