Chelsea Massachusetts JAG 2009 Recovery Act

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 Chelsea, through the Chelsea Police Department (CPD), will utilize its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award to support the Chelsea Police. The goals are to retain two part-time positions, fund overtime for the gang, drug, and anti-crime units, provide training to sworn officers, and sustain community outreach programs. The first project will be to retain two part-time positions that will include a Domestic Violence Advocate and a Data Specialist position. The funding of these positions will ensure there is no break in service for victims of crime and data analysis will continue. The second project will be to fund overtime for the gang, drug, and anti-crime units, which will allow more officers to focus on specialized crime prevention and policing projects. The third project will be to provide training. The CPD will utilize funding for firearms simulation training and distance learning training. The fourth project will be a community outreach project that will focus on maintaining ongoing relationships with the diverse Chelsea community.

NCA/NCF