Equipment, Supplies, Overtime, and Youth Services Projects

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 Leominster will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $102,647 to support community programs and purchase equipment and supplies for the Leominster Police Department. Funds will allow the continuation of the Junior Police Academy (JPA) and Youth Services Program (YSP). The JPA is a six-week program for 150 children which introduces them to law enforcement and brings potential at-risk youth back on track. The YSP provides child fingerprinting, registry, and safety programs to the local schools. Under a community policing initiative, additional patrols will be added to downtown areas on an overtime basis. Officers will utilize new crime mapping software and traffic count machines to add directed patrols in the most needed areas throughout the city. Much needed equipment, supplies, and maintenance purchases will include: simunition conversion kits, ATV maintenance, rifle lights, a K-9 training suit, ballistic helmets, a graffiti removal machine, and Tasers. The Recovery Act JAG will provide the Leominster Police Department the necessary funds to continue to implement critical programs, as well as the equipment needed to protect and support the city of Leominster.

NCA/NCF