Atlantic County Joint Recovery Act JAG Project

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 Atlantic City will serve as the fiscal agent for this award and will share the Recovery Act JAG funds with 11 disparate jurisdictions within Atlantic County. The Recovery Act JAG funds ($522,769) will improve criminal justice operations in Atlantic County. The city will use funds granted through the Recovery Act for the purchase of patrol vehicles and training equipment, upgrades to portable radios and several technological improvements. The Absecon Police Department ($21,936) will purchase a new police patrol car with emergency lights, siren, and radio equipment. The Buena Borough ($14,986) will fund part of the salary for a dispatcher and improve their video security system. The Egg Harbor City Police Department ($10,425) will purchase a police vehicle. The Hammonton Police Department ($18,244) will purchase radar units and mobile data terminals for their police vehicles. The Pleasantville Police Department ($109,680) will equip police officers with the necessary tools to improve gang and drug investigations. The Somers Point Police Department ($26,931) will lease new law enforcement vehicles. The Ventnor City Police Department ($12,597) will purchase new weapons and accessories for police officers. The Egg Harbor Township ($53,211) will fund new police officer positions. The Galloway Township Police Department ($60,812) will purchase new weapons, ammunition, and a new police vehicle with emergency accessories. The Hamilton Township Police Department ($43,437) will fund a new police office position.

NCA/NCF