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 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 city of Baltimore will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act Justice Assistance Grant award in the amount of $5,275,246 to enable the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) to help Baltimore build its capacity to reduce and prevent crime, enhance investigations and prosecutions, build strong business and community partnerships, and enhance public safety for the citizens of Baltimore. The BPD will upgrade its mobile data communication system, integrate its emergency 911 and CCTV systems, hire crime analysts and fiscal technicians, enhance the public safety information-sharing network server, expand the Violence Intervention and Safe Streets programs, support the positions of career development facilitator and business services representative in the Mayor's Office of Employment Development's Re-entry Center, and make funding available to support BPD's Education, Training, and Professional Development Program. The BPD will also use the funds to cover a portion of the salaries for a community service coordinator and two case investigators to ensure offender compliance with court sanctioned community service requirements. The decision by the mayor and city council to use the 2009 grant funds in this way reflects their commitment to ensuring the health, safety, and protection of the citizens of Baltimore by having a well-equipped and prepared police department. The BPD 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 city of Baltimore.

NCA/NCF