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.

The city of San Angelo and Tom Green County are listed as disparate jurisdictions on the Recovery Act JAG local allocation list. The city will serve as the fiscal agent to administer the grant funds for both jurisdictions. Each entity will use the grant funds to procure law enforcement equipment. Specifically, the city of San Angelo Police Department will outfit patrol cars with digital video cameras. This will help the police department upgrade current video technology from VHS systems to digital. Tom Green County Sheriff's Office proposes to use their allocation to purchase stop sticks, less-than-lethal devices (tasers), and duty gear (belts, holsters, and magazine holders). The stop sticks will equip all remaining patrol units. This will allow any officer in the area of a pursuit the ability to terminate the pursuit as soon as possible. The tasers will help control combative or uncooperative subjects with minimal risk to the subject. The replacement duty gear is for officers whose gear has been worn out from service.

NCA/NCF