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 Oneonta and Otsego County will utilize Recovery Act JAG funds in the amount of $23,670 to support separate law enforcement initiatives aimed at enhancing officer safety and better serving the community. The city, through the Police Department, will apply its share of $13,670 towards evidence storage lockers, firearms and a weapons storage unit for tactical and high risk operations, and a small arms cleaning unit that will improve the longevity of the department's weapons. The county will use its share of $10,000 to purchase a specialized phone system that calls individuals on a daily basis to check on their well-being, and generates emergency notification phone alerts to community members. For purposes of grant administration, the city has been designated as the fiscal agent for this award. All projects are expected to begin immediately upon receipt of the Recovery Act funds.

NCA/NCF