Ouachita Parish Recovery Act JAG project

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 Ouachita Parish and the city of Monroe will use their 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $343,508 to support their law enforcement agencies. Ouachita Parish, serving as the fiscal agent, will use its share of the grant ($171,754) to install an Electronic Citation Management System to automate the exchange of civil documents for the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office. This technology upgrade will address the problems resulting from the existing paper drive system and will foster data sharing and linkage among various criminal justice entities. The city of Monroe will use its share of the grant ($171,754) to purchase a Lenco Bearcat Response Vehicle for the Monroe Police Department. This vehicle will allow the Special Response Team to transport equipment and trained personnel to emergency incidents, including hazardous material tactical operations, and response to weapons of mass destruction and chemical biological radioactive nuclear incidents. The JAG funds will assist in economic stimulation through the production and sale of the stated technology and equipment.

NCA/NCF