FY 2009 Recovery Act JAG 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 Alamance County and the cities of Burlington, Graham, and Mebane will use their Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $385,791 to purchase patrol cars and other equipment and to provide funds for a junior police academy. The city of Burlington, serving as the fiscal agent, will use its share of the grant to purchase six patrol cars, six light bars, five portable radios, one surveillance alarm, ten digital recorders, and a DVR recording software updates. They will also provide funding for their junior police academy. Alamance County will use their portion to purchase two patrol cars and to replace their current interview recording equipment. The city of Graham will use its share to purchase eight ballistic vests, one patrol car, and two in-car digital video systems. The city of Mebane will use JAG funding to purchase eight ballistic vests, eight assault helmets, eight tactical holsters, eight nylon duty belts, eight Velcro belt interlocks, eight belt keepers, and two rugged notebook PCs.

NCA/NCF