FY 2009 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.

Mifflin County will use Recovery Act JAG funds for several strategies which are unique to the individual needs and challenges being faced by each participating partner. The Mifflin County Probation and Parole Department will use funds to pay overtime for probation and police officers. Funds will be used to purchase flat screens televisions for two courtrooms to ensure proper display of evidence and equal access to justice. Funds will also be used to outfit an in-house Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT) which will be responsible for responding to inmate violence and disturbances within the county correctional facility. The Mifflin County Sherriff's Department will use funds to make improvements to the holding cell used for inmates in the Mifflin County Courthouse.

NCA/NCF