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 Malden, through the Malden Police Department (MPD), will utilize their Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award for law enforcement equipment and overtime. The first project is to increase effective and efficient police service by upgrading technological and tactical areas. The MPD will purchase computer hardware and technological and tactical equipment upgrades. The purchases and implementation of technological upgrades will include computer equipment, shredder, video camera, and upgrades to the tactical arms room. The second project is to continue community involvement by incorporating police, local government, and local citizens into the community policing mission. The MPD will direct overtime patrols to address hot spot activity. The identification of hot spots will result from several areas of input and will allow MPD to continue the partnership between MPD and the citizens of Malden.

NCA/NCF