FY 2009 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 disparate jurisdictions consisting of Humboldt County and the city of Eureka have agreed to share their joint award and collaborate with the cities of Arcata and Fortuna. These four jurisdictions will use a total of $189,068 to fund a Forensic Computer Examiner position. The examiner is a skilled individual that uses technical equipment to extract deleted files from electronic media. This type of training, skills, and equipment is paramount in successfully apprehending and prosecuting high technology criminals. The objectives are to communicate and coordinate with local law enforcement agencies and have the examiner services available in the office or out in the field. The overall goal of this collaborative project is to continue to provide computer forensic services to law enforcement agencies throughout the northwest part of the state.

NCA/NCF