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 town of Southampton will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $45,490 to purchase emergency equipment needed by the Southampton Police Department. Funds will be used to fully outfit three public safety divers, as well as six public safety divers currently operating without the full life support SCUBA system. The dispatch center will install flat screen monitors to ease eye strain and provide for better ergonomics and support. Large screen monitors for display of a town wide map indicating locations and movements of patrol vehicles will also be installed. The Investigative Unit will purchase night vision equipment to be deployed in low-light situations during surveillance operations and will complement new digital cameras that all investigators have been equipped with. This will allow the investigator to mount the night vision equipment directly to their camera for the recording of evidence. The purchase of this equipment will increase diver safety, provide a better work environment for emergency public safety operators, and enhance the ability of investigative units to successfully conduct criminal investigations.

NCA/NCF