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.

Juneau County, through the Sheriff's Office, will use the Recovery Act JAG funds to add equipment to the Administrative, Investigative, and Patrol Divisions of the Sheriff's Office. Specifically, grant funds will be use to purchase a ground hog camera, digital recorder/transmitter, and a GPS tracker for the Investigative Division to assist detectives assigned to drug investigations. Digital recorders will be used with interviews and the recording of reports for transcription. Grant funds will also add tasers and a ballistic shield to the Patrol Division to assist in officer safety for incidents involving offenders who are violent. The taser can also be used during high risk incidents and drug warrant searches.

NCA/NCF