Middlesex County 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 Middlesex and the municipalities of Carteret, New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, Sayreville, South Plainfield, South River, East Brunswick, Old Bridge, North Brunswick, Piscataway, Edison, South Bridge, and Woodbridge have signed a disparate agreement to share the Recovery Act JAG funds in the amount of $979,950. The New Brunswick Police Department will serve as the fiscal agent managing the Recovery Act JAG award. The municipalities will use their grant funds to boost their police department's crime control and prevention strategies. The Carteret Police Department ($36,705) will purchase mobile data terminals and enforce motor vehicle offenses. The New Brunswick Police Department ($214,147) and South Brunswick Police Department ($18,027) will continue to fund needed law enforcement positions. The North Brunswick Police Department ($58,206) will hire a crime analyst. The Old Bridge Police Department ($34,533) and the Edison Police Department ($163,108) will upgrade audio and visual recording equipment. The South River Police Department ($16,723) will fund tactical training. The Edison Police Department ($163,108), Piscataway Police Department ($47,564), Sayreville Police Department ($40,180), and East Brunswick Police Department ($28,017) will upgrade or replace general and tactical equipment. The South Plainfield Police Department ($21,502) will purchase a police cruiser. The Perth Amboy Police Department ($128,140) will purchase a police cruiser and equipment. The Woodbridge Police Department ($173,098) will purchase traffic enforcement equipment. The municipalities to use the grant Recovery Act JAG funds in this way reflects their commitment to ensuring the health, safety and protection of its citizens by having well trained, equipped, and prepared law enforcement agencies.

NCA/NCF