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.

Westchester County and the cities of Hastings on Hudson, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Ossining, Peekskill, Port Chester, White Plains, Yonkers, Greenburgh, Harrison, and Yorktown will use Recovery Act JAG funds in the amount of $1,319,212 to support multiple law enforcement initiatives. Through the grant, the village of Hastings on Hudson, the city of New Rochelle, and the village of Port Chester will use funds to purchase marked police vehicles. The Port Chester Police Department will also apply funds towards computer equipment in an effort upgrade its records management system. The Mount Vernon Police Department will use its share to support officer overtime and purchase surveillance cameras. The village of Ossining Police Department will use funds to purchase portable interoperable radios. The city of Peekskill will use its share to purchase tactical sniper rifles, tactical headsets, a field surveillance system, and a crisis response wireless telephone for its Tactical Team. The city of White Plains will use funds for police officer overtime associated with community policing initiatives. The city of Yonkers will apply funds towards patrol officer overtime, emergency equipment for criminal investigations, and advertising costs for its Mutual Respect and Courtesy campaign. The town of Greenburgh Police Department and the town of Harrison Police Department will purchase license plate readers and mobile computers to improve efficiency and increase stolen vehicle recoveries and enforcement of vehicle and traffic laws. The Town of Yorktown Police Department will use funds to purchase an electronic fingerprinting system. Remaining funds will be used by the County to support overtime expenses incurred by probation officers monitoring the activity of sex offenders. The city of Yonkers will serve as the fiscal agent for this award. It is anticipated all purchases will be made in the United States when possible to help preserve manufacturing and related jobs.

NCA/NCF