Joint JAG Grant 2009 (Wilson County Sheriff's Department and Lebanon Police Department)

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 city of Lebanon and Wilson County will use the Recovery Act JAG funds of $190,321 to establish a wireless network that will be accessible with Mobile Data Terminals and in-car video systems. This will be a critical piece of each law enforcement agency's infrastructure. The wireless network established by the city of Lebanon will better enhance officer safety for the department by allowing patrol officers to directly access sensitive law enforcement data. In addition to safety concerns, the network will also enable the Lebanon Police Department to enhance its productivity by utilizing the ability of each officer to access critical files within the agency's databases.

The in-car video system established by the Wilson County Sheriff's Department will provide digital recordings of patrol vehicle activities that will help enhance officer safety. These videos will be also stored and available to assist the deputies in the prosecution of various offenses within the county. This equipment will assist in increasing safety of officers and the community.

NCA/NCF