Dekalb County FY 2009 Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial 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.

DeKalb County will use the Recovery Act JAG funds to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on DeKalb County's needs and conditions to preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery. The funds will be used for local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice activities. The goals are to: (1) Create and preserve 72 jobs in DeKalb County; (2) Provide and restore funding for valuable programs beneficial for the residents of DeKalb County; and (3) Provide and restore funding for equipment, technology, and training that is needed to enhance criminal justice/law enforcement activities in DeKalb County. To meet these goals, the JAG funds will be allocated to support: (1) District Attorney (DA); (2) Drug Court; (3) Juvenile Court; (4) Parks and Recreation Department; (5) Marshal's Office; (6) DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD); (7) DeKalb County School System; (8) Sheriff Office (DKSO); and (9) Office of the DeKalb Solicitor-General.

NCA/NCF