FY 2009 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 disparate jurisdictions consisting of Clark County and the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Mesquite will use their Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $7,558,206 to support personnel, equipment purchases, and multi-agency, multi-disciplinary programs across the county. The city of Las Vegas, serving as the fiscal agent, will use $4,373,566.44 towards personnel, including full-time, part-time, and contract employees, as well as law enforcement equipment and training. The city of North Las Vegas will use $1,139,638 for computer software applications to increase community safety, as well the maintenance of one position. The city of Henderson will use $502,113 to provide 24 new officers with the necessary police equipment as well 30 upgraded laptops for existing officers. The city of Mesquite will use $321,949.70 for police protective equipment, computer software and equipment for the courtroom, and two part-time positions. Clark County will use $1,220,938.85 towards non-profit organizations that provide justice-related programs for children and youth. Project goals include the following deliverables: 42 jobs will be created; 33 jobs will be maintained and/or prevented from elimination; 16 jobs will be restored; 29 essential services will be created; 60 essential services will be maintained and/or prevented from elimination; and 60 or more coordination efforts and/or partnerships will be created or maintained.

NCA/NCF