Building Security and Less Than Lethal Force Equipment Acquisition 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.

Baxter County will use its Fiscal Year 2009 JAG award to provide enhanced security for the Baxter County Courts Complex and the safety of those persons utilizing the facility. Additionally, the county will use funds to provide for enhanced security of the Baxter County Sheriff's Administration Office. The county will enhance the security of these buildings by purchasing a digital video surveillance system for each. The final objective of the Recovery JAG grant program is to provide an additional less than lethal force option for Sheriff's Deputies working on the street in the Patrol Division. This would be accomplished through the purchase and issuance of tasers. The money requested from the Recovery Act JAG program will quickly be put back into the community through the purchasing of equipment and technicians who will be providing services and installing the equipment. The ripple effect of that money being made available will keep jobs for the citizens of this jurisdiction and further the recovery of the community.

NCA/NCF