FY 2009 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 disparate jurisdictions consisting of Greene County and the cities of Springfield, Republic, and Willard will use their Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $666,180 to acquire and replace law enforcement equipment, support personnel, and increase youth programs. The city of Springfield, serving as the fiscal agent, will use $343,058 to purchase 40 laptop computers, five patrol vehicles, 10 digital video cameras, and one Cellebrite mobile data synchronization device for the police department. Greene County will use $288,706 purchase supplies, equipment, and a vehicle and to employ an Inmate Population Control Officer for the Greene County Jail. The city of Republic will use $23,512 to purchase seven mobile data terminals, licensing, data cards and equivalent fees, and in-car mounts. The city of Willard will use $10,904 for Police Athletic League (PAL) equipment, t-shirts, coaches, insurance, and national membership dues.

NCA/NCF