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.

Schenectady County, the city of Schenectady, and the town of Rotterdam will use the Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $426,793 to support separate law enforcement related initiatives. The county, through the District Attorney's Office, will apply its share towards the salary of a newly hired gang investigator who will investigate violent street gangs and related criminal activity. Funds will also be applied towards additional surveillance cameras and associated software, advertising expenses for the Gun Tell Tip Line, and portable radios for neighborhood crime prevention programs. The city of Schenectady, through the Police Department, will use its share to retain two assistant crime analysts tasked with monitoring local crime trends and a community response facilitator who will provide referral services relating to domestic violence and general law enforcement issues. Officer overtime for special investigations and details will also be supported. Remaining funds will be used for computer equipment, traffic investigation equipment, a GPS tracking system, shields used in high risk situations, and Tasers. The town of Rotterdam will apply its share towards overtime incurred by its police officers. For purposes of grant administration, the city of Schenectady has been designated as the fiscal agent. A portion of funding will be used for costs associated with the management of the award.

NCA/NCF