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 disparate jurisdictions consisting of Columbia County and the city of Hudson will use their Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $32,361 to support personnel and make equipment purchases. The city of Hudson, serving as the fiscal agent, will use $19,971 to help the Hudson Police Department implement "Quality of Life" details in targeted areas. The "Quality of Life" details will consist of enforcing everything from city code and vehicle violations to penal law. The detail will be supported on an overtime basis, consisting of an estimated 296 hours. The department will also purchase a D90 Nikon Camera to be used for undercover surveillance and crime scene documentation. The Columbia County Sheriff's Department will use $17,390 to support overtime costs and purchase equipment (antenna, radar, digital video system, microphones) for an estimated 205 hours of added saturation patrols and aggressive driver patrols.

NCA/NCF