On Board Cameras for Patrol Cars

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 consisting of the city of Baxley and Appling County will use the $24,809 in Recovery Act JAG funds to support the city of Baxley. Funds will be used to assist the Baxley Police Department with the purchase of five on board camera systems to go into patrol units that are now in service. The goal of the upgrade is to enhance law enforcement strategies and to increase officer safety. The grant funds will enable the department to promote a more user-friendly community policing strategy. The camera equipment currently in use is outdated and in need of replacement. With the replacement of these newer digital video cameras, the police officers will be able to promote better safety, not only for themselves during traffic stops and while working accidents, but to the citizenry that they serve.

NCA/NCF