FY 2009 Recovery Act Justice Assistance Grant 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 city of Beaverton will use Recovery Act JAG funds to enhance law enforcement operations, police officer safety, and develop a crime victim program. Specifically, the city police department will use funds to support officer training costs involving emergency vehicle operations and the proper use of firearms. The department will also purchase less-than-lethal weapons, ballistic shields, a general purpose response vehicle, and software that will manage officer training records, the department's policy and procedure system, and graffiti tracking. Remaining funds will be applied towards the salary of a victim services coordinator tasked with providing directed services to victims of crime, community outreach, and further development of the program. Through the implementation of the proposed activities, the city of Beaverton will meet the stated purposes of the Recovery Act by creating jobs, and promoting economic recovery by supporting American workers and businesses.

NCA/NCF