JAG Recovery Courthouse Security Project

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.

Franklin County will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award to create a new position to support courthouse security. The employee will work the entrance level of the courthouse to maintain a secure environment in and around the court proceedings. The goals of this project are to create a new job and reduce the number of patrol hours lost due to personnel being taken off patrol duties to perform the task. The strategies and major deliverables will be to employ personnel to scan persons entering the court and provide a secure environment for court personnel. This position will come directly under the supervision of the Sheriff's Major who will ensure proper training of the employee and assign duties. This position will be on a part-time basis because of the limited funding but will be maintained during the course of the grant period. It is the intent of the Sheriff's Department to eventually make this a full-time position.

NCA/NCF