FY 2009 Recovery Act Justice Assistance Grant 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 disparate jurisdictions of the county of Kent, Camden Town, Dover City, Harrington City, and Smyrna Town will share the Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act Justice Assistance Grant award in the amount of $390,329, with the Dover Police Department (DPD) serving as the applicant and fiscal agent. The municipalities will use their grant funds to boost their police departments' crime control and prevention strategies. The Camden Police Department ($17,053), the Dover Police Department ($294,831), the Harrington Police Department ($29,938) and the Smyrna Police Department ($48,507) will purchase police cruisers, computer hardware and software systems, and communications, tactical and traffic enforcement equipment, and provide overtime for officers conducting saturation patrols. The decision by the municipalities to use the grant funds in this way reflects their commitment to ensuring the health, safety, and protection of its citizens by having well trained, equipped and prepared law enforcement agencies. The DPD will issue thorough, comprehensive written progress and fiscal reports on a quarterly schedule to keep all interested parties apprised of its efforts of moving forward toward the goal of reducing crime and violence in the county of Kent.

NCA/NCF