Job Creation/Retention and Equipment Purchases

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.

Cobb County will use the Recovery Act JAG funds to: 1) provide and sustain jobs to promote economic recovery; 2) improve the Criminal Justice System; and 3) support activities that prevent and control crime. The Sheriff's Department will use its JAG funding for start-up uniform purchases, position-related equipment costs, and two vehicles. The Cobb County Police Department will purchase equipment and technology to be used in 161 police vehicles. The equipment and technology will include an automatic vehicle locator (AVL) system and an advanced tactical mapping (ATM) system that will be integrated into the existing computer aided dispatch (CAD) system. Cobb County Juvenile Court will hire a Judicial Program Coordinator for the Mediation Unit and a Juvenile Probation Officer for the Gang Suppression Program. The Young Women's Christian Association of Northwest Georgia (YWCA) will use its JAG funding to establish a 'problem solving' court day to offset the costs being incurred by the Superior Court. Funds will be used for court costs and to provide for a part-time Legal Advocate.

The Center for Family Resources will use funds for a new project to increase services to the Six Flags area of South Cobb County. Cobb County Public Safety will institute a 'Weed & Seed' type program. The Drug Court, a part of Superior Court, will utilize funds to expand its drug lab. By hiring additional staff, the lab will be able to remain open five days per week. This will eliminate the need for sending samples out for testing and allow for quicker test results, enabling the court to operate in a more efficient and effective manner. SafePath Children's Advocacy Center will use funds to purchase and install technological equipment to improve resources and services for victims of crime and their families.

NCA/NCF