STOP Cop Layoffs 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 Iuka will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award to support the police department's STOP Cop Layoffs Project. The city of Iuka is a small city with a population of less than 3,000 and is experiencing economic shortfalls through recent factory closings, layoffs, and a decrease in tax revenue. As a result, the city is faced with layoffs due to the 12 percent decline in tax revenues and the anticipation of further losses. Recovery Act JAG funds will be used to supplement the budget for the salary of one officer over a period of two years. The Iuka Police Department has 12 full-time and 5 part-time personnel. The goal of the department is preventing criminal activity, protecting the people, and enforcing the federal and state laws and the ordinances of the city of Iuka. The preservation of this position will support a safer environment for the citizens of Iuka.

NCA/NCF