Phillipsburg and Pohatcong 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.

The town of Phillipsburg and the township of Pohatcong will share the Recovery Act JAG award. The county of Warren has declined their share of the Recovery Act JAG funds. The Phillipsburg Police Department will serve as the fiscal agent managing the Recovery Act JAG award. The Pohatcong Police Department will utilize $13,293 toward the purchase of an all-terrain vehicle, necessary for their rural area, increasing the police presence in the township. The Phillipsburg Police Department will purchase a mobile data terminal, computer, and printer to improve police officer access to criminal justice data. In addition, they will purchase protective gear. The Recovery Act JAG funds will improve the criminal justice operations of the Phillipsburg Police Department and the Pohatcong Police Department.

NCA/NCF