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 county of Baltimore will use its fiscal year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $2,716,312 to boost its crime reduction and prevention strategy. The funds will be used by the Baltimore County Police Department to hire and train five Forensic Evidence Technicians and to upgrade the department's forensic equipment. The decision by the county council to use the 2009 grant funds in this way reflects their commitment to ensuring the health, safety, and protection of the citizens of Baltimore County. The police department will issue thorough, comprehensive written progress and fiscal reports on a quarterly schedule to keep all interested parties apprised of the coordinated effort of moving forward toward the goal of preventing and reducing crime in Baltimore County.

NCA/NCF