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 Winooski will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $84,209 to purchase a police cruiser, fingerprint system, surveillance equipment, and enhancements to the dispatch center.

There has never been a dedicated police cruiser for the Winooski School Resource Officer (SRO.) These funds will to purchase a police cruiser for this officer. When not in use by the SRO, this vehicle will be made available for regular patrol use. The department currently processes fingerprints manually with paper and ink. The Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) will allow the department to digitally obtain fingerprints and electronically transmit them to the state database.

Enhancements will be made to the department dispatch center as well as up-grades to the city video monitoring system within the municipal parking garage and River Walk recreation area. A surveillance system will be connected to the dispatch center to permit live monitoring via computer servers and monitors. The dispatch center will undergo remodeling as it currently is put together with homemade counters, desks, and shelves that are over fifteen years-old. New furniture, as well as a new dispatch computer system, will be installed to improve operational functions.

NCA/NCF