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 Statesboro, in coordination with the Statesboro Police Department, and Bulloch County, through the Sheriff Department, will apply Recovery Act JAG funding towards essential law enforcement training and equipment. Funds will be distributed evenly between the two jurisdictions. Through the grant, the city police department will purchase a utility vehicle to transport ammunition at its training facility, an audio/video editing system that will enhance evidence collected, a tactical vehicle for its emergency response team, kennels for K-9 vehicles, a computer system for finger print comparison, and GPS devices to be housed in patrol vehicles. The Bulloch County Sheriff Department will use its share to purchase and install firearm training simulators for force on force training, a GPS tracking device, a night vision device and ballistic face shields for tactical operations. It is anticipated the Recovery Act funded purchases will be made upon receipt of the grant in an effort to stimulate the economy. For purposes of grant administration, the city has been designated as the fiscal agent for this award.

NCA/NCF