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.

Sherburne County will use the Recovery Act JAG funds to support chemical health and school safety. Specially, the sheriff's office will sustain a Chemical Health Consultant Program which will allow the school districts to hire a part-time counselor to provide services to high school students who use illicit or illegal chemicals, who are tempted to use these types of chemicals, and/or who are living in situations where chemical abuse is occurring. This program will reduce the use of chemicals by school age youth, provide education and support to staff and students within the school community, increase student achievement through positive decision making by their youth, and continue a strong partnership between the schools and law enforcement. The remaining funds will be used to purchase Baker Batshields to ensure a safe and prompt response by law enforcement in the event of a school shooting crisis.

NCA/NCF