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 city of Lima and Allen County agreed that Lima will serve as the fiscal agent for their disparate application and provide $130,203 of the total allocation to Allen County. Both jurisdictions will use funding for law enforcement programs. The goals and objectives of the programs are to retain law enforcement jobs and to stimulate the economy and support American manufacturers and vendors by acquiring needed equipment, consumable supplies, and communication services to support and advance local law enforcement evidence gathering and communications. Allen County will use its allocation to retain two deputies and one corrections officer that are scheduled for lay-offs. The city of Lima Police Department will provide overtime for officers to address quality of life issues, purchase and outfit a Ford police cruiser, add digital video equipment for cruisers, and replace obsolete communications equipment.

NCA/NCF