Recovery Act JAG 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.

Smith County and the city of Tyler are listed as disparate jurisdictions on the FY 2009 Recovery Act JAG local allocation chart. The county will serve as the fiscal agent to administer the grant funds for both jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction will utilize grant funds for law enforcement purposes.

Smith County, through the Sheriff's Office, will utilize its portion of JAG funds to purchase: (1) a communication server that will enable continuous, wireless connectivity. This will allow first responders from law enforcement agencies and fire departments continuous connectivity; (2) portable radios to be compatible with state and local inter-operability requirements; and (3) three law enforcement patrol vehicles to replace older vehicles currently in fleet. Funds will also be used to provide expanded training opportunities to first responders in being prepared for active shooter incidents.

The city of Tyler, through the police department, proposes to procure three police cruisers and radio communication equipment. The vehicles will be equipped and integrated into the existing patrol operations fleet in furtherance of law enforcement, crime prevention, and service response. The radios will serve as replacements due to the federal mandated re-banding requirements.

NCA/NCF