FY 2009 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.

Citrus County will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award to make law enforcement functions more efficient and effective through the use of digital technology. The county plans to purchase equipment and supplies that will provide their officers and technicians the ability to collect and process evidence in the form of digital video and photo images. The Citrus County Sheriff's Office will purchase thirty in-car digital video systems that will be installed in sheriff's office patrol cruisers. These in-car video systems are necessary to document field actions such as traffic stops, DUI arrests, and drug searches. The resulting evidence can be easily stored, retrieved, and transferred to court for prosecution. They will also purchase a system for secure storage of digital photo, video, and audio evidence items. This system is necessary to prevent unauthorized access or manipulation of digital evidence which enhances the chances of successful testimony and prosecution. The sheriff's office will also purchase expendable supplies, spare parts, test and diagnostic equipment, and software used in the collection of digital evidence. These expenditures are necessary to maintain efficient operation of the grant funded equipment.

NCA/NCF