Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $31,467)
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 of Garvin County and the city of Pauls Valley will use their Recovery Act JAG funds to support their law enforcement agencies with equipment and equipment enhancement. The city of Pauls Valley, serving as the fiscal agent, will use its share of the award ($19,424) to purchase three in-car video systems and a computer server system for the Pauls Valley Police Department. The in-car video systems will provide valuable visual evidence to make the prosecution of criminals easier. It will also enhance officer safety as criminals will know that they are being recorded. The video systems will help limit agency liability by providing documentation of events as they truly happened. The computer server will help in the apprehension of suspects by allowing officers to enter data more quickly, enabling them get back on the street quicker. It will also help create a database that can be used by detectives and officers to locate subjects and assist with solving other crimes. The database will make it easier to track crime in certain areas and step up enforcement in those same areas, and will be connected with other agencies throughout the state to share information.
Garvin County will use its share of the award ($12,043) to purchase equipment for the Garvin County Sheriff's Office, including laptop computers and audio/visual recording device system for an interview room along with printers. The laptop computers will help in the apprehension of suspects by allowing officers to enter data more quickly, enabling them to get back on the street quicker. Laptops can be used in the field and then connected to database at the office. The printers will help in the prosecution of criminals. The recording equipment will help provide video and audio evidence for a more solid case for prosecution of criminals through an interview room. These devices will also help limit liability of the agency by providing documentation of the events.
NCA/NCF