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 city of New Haven, through the New Haven Police Department (NHPD), will utilize their Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award for an Effective Law Enforcement and Community Policing Program. The main goal of this program is to improve NHPD efficiency and effectiveness in enforcing laws, maintaining public safety, and preventing crime. The first project will be to fund overtime for police officers providing and attending trainings. The second project will be to continue the Tactical and Administrative Strategies through Crime Analysis (TASCA) problem solving model. The NHPD will provide overtime to the NHPD Crime Analysis Unit which will gather data from the record management system and other sources, analyze the information, including the use of Geographic Information Systems mapping, in preparation for meetings held every three weeks with key department operational personnel from all shifts. The third project will be to reinvigorate and sustain civic engagement with the police department with a goal of reducing crime. As a follow-up to problem solving responses there will be intense community organizing through block watches and involvement by community management teams. The NHPD will continue to host the Citizen's Police Academy. The fourth project will be a new police cadet program that will provide additional support for increasing participation in the newly established Police Explorer's program. The NHPD will start a cadet program for older participants who will learn police work and actively assist with select public safety initiatives. The fifth project will be to improve police effectiveness in controlling aggressive driving and preventing traffic accidents by providing equipment and supplies for the newly reorganized NHPD Traffic Enforcement Unit.

NCA/NCF