Project Identify - Crime Analysis

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 Jonesboro and Craighead County agreed that the city will serve as the fiscal agent for the FY 2009 Recovery Act JAG award. The city of Jonesboro will use the full allocation to offset the costs of three new positions at the police department, including salary, fringe benefits, training, equipment, and supplies. The objective is to enhance crime prevention efforts through the sharing of crime analysis information within the Jonesboro Police Department, as well as with other local law enforcement agencies involved in multijurisdictional activities. Additional personnel will enable the police department to analyze crime related reports, patterns, and trends in order to identify specific problem areas in a more efficient and systematic manner. A full-time analyst will be needed to direct the collection of data, and utilize qualitative methods of examining all relevant factors in order to develop more comprehensive strategies to combat crime.

NCA/NCF