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.

St. Croix County will utilize Recovery Act JAG funding in the amount of $25,003 to support the salary of a newly hired victim services assistant position within the county's Victim/Witness Assistance Program. The victim services assistant will be responsible for providing direct services to victims of crime, which includes: assessing the needs of victims in order to make appropriate referrals; provide short-term crisis intervention services; ensure the victim's right to restitution is protected; and serve as a liaison with prosecutors to ensure victims and witnesses appear for hearings as scheduled. Funds will also be applied towards general office equipment for the victim services assistant. This position would not have been filled if not for the assistance of the Recovery Act due to the lack of funding caused by the current state of the economy.

NCA/NCF