The West Haven Police Department Citizens and Police Problem Solving Recovery 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 city of West Haven will use Recovery Act JAG funds to support a Citizens and Police Problem Solving Project (CAPPS). The city will use funds to provide overtime for police officers implementing CAPPS goals, objectives, and activities. The CAPPS police officers will form and maintain proactive partnerships with citizens to identify and solve problems. The focus of CAPPS will not only be to respond to crime, but to prevent crime, respond to community problems, and foster an atmosphere that promotes a positive community environment for local community businesses and community members. The goals of the CAPPS program are to: establish a list of neighborhood problems including citizen's observations; educate citizens about crime prevention, drug abuse resistance education, anti-gang initiatives, and reducing crime; increase neighborhood youth programs that will focus on deterring negative behavior; develop and execute a neighborhood prevention plan; and document partnership attempts, neighborhood problems, and police department responses to neighborhood issues. The major outcome will be to improve the overall quality of life in the community and assist with community revitalization. A healthy neighborhood will promote pride in ownership and bring new business.

NCA/NCF