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.

Jefferson County, through the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO), will use their Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award to purchase weapons and equipment for sworn members that will allow the officers to better investigate incidents and document serious and fatal crashes that occur in Jefferson County. The weapons and equipment purchased with these grant funds will assist deputies in the enforcement of laws and will be an invaluable asset in protecting the citizens, visitors, and historical locations of Jefferson County. The purchase of the described weapons and the accompanying equipment will allow each sworn member of the JCSO to be issued a long gun or rifle. This will further their ability to respond to active shooter scenarios and better deal with subjects that are armed with similar weapons. Additionally, the purchase of a sniper weapon will allow the Jefferson County Special Weapons and Tactics Team to deploy an additional sniper at barricade and hostage scenes.

NCA/NCF