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 Billerica will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $19,492 for technological upgrades within the Billerica Police Department. An AFIX Tracker with minutia-based fingerprint and palm print identification system will be purchased and used principally toward crime scene investigations. In addition to the AFIX system, the department will integrate the current records management system (ARMS) with the live-scan fingerprinting system. The purpose of the integration is to pass demographical information of arrestees from the ARMS to the live-scan device. The interface will streamline the booking process and remove the requirement for redundant data entry by the booking officer. The AFIX Tracker and integration of record systems will enhance the speed and efficiency of investigations, creating a more efficient police force.

NCA/NCF