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 consisting of the city of Worland and Washakie County will use its Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $35,370 to purchase law enforcement equipment and provide specialized training for officers. Washakie County will be the fiscal agent for this grant, and both the city of Worland and Washakie County agreed to divide the total award amount equally. The city of Worland will use their portion of the JAG award to purchase one police vehicle. Washakie County will use their portion of the JAG award to fund specialized training programs which includes advanced tactical and anti-terrorism courses, officer development courses, advanced firearms instruction courses, leadership development courses, safety school resources, and detention security training; specialized equipment which includes vehicle stop spikes, less lethal tools, ballistic shields, bomb blankets, and road block stop items; multi-interagency interoperability equipment which includes secure channel radio upgrades, tactical armor, radio microphones, and an MDT laptop; and one fiscal officer for the preparation of grant documentation and reporting. These purchases will enhance their ability to provide professional and efficient service to its citizens. In accordance with the ARRA goal of stabilizing state and local government budgets, funding will be used to procure goods and services that will create and preserve jobs and/or promote economic recovery.

NCA/NCF