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.

Luzerne County, acting as the fiscal agent, will share the Fiscal Year 2009 JAG funds with nine jurisdictions, who in a collaborative effort to benefit the county of Luzerne, agree to utilize $331,850 to support information systems and technology equipment upgrades within their police departments. Luzerne County, the fiscal agent will utilize $0. Edwardsville Borough will utilize its share to purchase computer equipment, a breath alcohol tester, and overtime for community oriented policing activities. Exeter Borough will utilize its share to purchase computer equipment. The city of Hazleton will utilize its portion to purchase six fully-equipped and installed in-car computer systems and wireless broadband access for each system for three years. Kingston Borough will utilize its share to purchase a dispatch console, car radios, and surveillance equipment. The city of Nanticoke will utilize its portion to purchase special team response initiative supplies, training, equipment, and Canine Team equipment. Swoyersville Borough will utilize its share for less-than-lethal equipment, evidence management equipment, and Canine Unit training. The city of Wilkes Barre will utilize its portion for saturation patrol overtime, tasers, and air cartridges. Butler Township will utilize its share for surveillance equipment.
Plains Township will utilize its portion for Anti-Crime Detail Project overtime, tasers, and taser training.

NCA/NCF