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 Liberty will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $14,424 to acquire ballistic safety equipment and cover overtime costs for the Selective Enforcement Crime Unit of the Liberty Police Department. The unit will investigate criminal activity occurring within the village of Liberty during approximately 211 overtime enforcement hours. Unit members typically find themselves working in hazardous environments and volatile situations. To properly protect the officers, a lighted ballistic shield and two ballistic tactical vests will be purchased along with additional ballistic equipment. With the Recovery Act JAG, the Liberty Police Department anticipates increasing the rate of economic recovery in the village of Liberty by creating an attractive atmosphere on Main Street, business areas, and residential neighborhoods.

NCA/NCF