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 city of Howell will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $14,433 to purchase technology equipment. The Howell Police Department is partnering with emergency responders and other law enforcement agencies within Livingston County to implement a county-wide OSSI Records Management/Field Based Reporting, Computer Aided Dispatch, and Jail Management system. To utilize complete functions of this system, the department will purchase printers and magswipe readers for seven patrol cruisers. The integration of the OSSI system will enable first responders to share data, reduce expenses through paperless Records Management Systems, and enable officers more time in problem solving and community policing programs. The remaining funds will be used to purchase digital video and audio recording equipment for the department's interview and interrogation room. Funding will assist the department in meeting anticipated legislative mandates in custodial interrogation recording.

NCA/NCF