FY 2009 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 jurisdiction consisting of Dallas County and the city of Selma will utilize a portion of their joint award towards overtime for off-duty police officers. Dallas County, acting as the fiscal agent, will use funds for the immediate purchase of two police vehicles, as well as the purchase of radios, a criminal investigation unit video recorder, and on-duty equipment for officers. Funds will also be used to continue tracking sexual offenders in the Offender Watch database. The city of Selma will use funds for the continuation of the Selma Police Department's (SPD's) Operation Bullseye, which provides overtime for officers working in high crime areas of the city. Funds will also be used to upgrade SPD equipment, including surveillance and bicycle patrol equipment. SPD will also purchase firearms training ammunition and related materials, and officers will be sent to various 'train the trainer' schools.

NCA/NCF