Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $23,154,268)
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 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 South Carolina Department of Public Safety will utilize its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act Justice Assistance Grant award funding to hire personnel, purchase equipment, conduct training and technical assistance, and enhance criminal justice information systems to increase the apprehension, prosecution, adjudication, detention, and rehabilitation of persons who violate criminal justice laws. In addition, funds will support projects that facilitate the implementation of innovative initiatives aimed at crime and drug control. The major deliverables for this project will be purchasing law enforcement equipment that will allow local law enforcement and state agencies to enhance their effectiveness, increase their technology, and enhance officer safety; and procuring law enforcement communications equipment such as mobile and portable 800 MHz radios, laptops, and mobile data terminals with wireless connections. Coordination will continue with the Public Safety Coordinating Council, which consists of members appointed by the Governor. Membership includes a state senator, state representative, victims' advocate, sheriff, chief of police, director of the Department of Public Safety, and chief of the State Law Enforcement Division. Criminal justice initiatives are also coordinated with various state and local agencies, state and local prosecutors, the United States Attorney's Office, various non-profit agencies, community organizations, and professional criminal justice associations.
NCA/NCF