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 Cullman will use the Recovery Act JAG funds to support the Cullman Police Department in the purchase of equipment to better equip the officers to respond in an active shooter situation. The Cullman Police Department has invested in an ongoing semi-annual training for every sworn officer in the department. As per active shooter training, it is imperative that the first responding officers immediately pursue and engage the shooter at the earliest opportunity. The sooner the shooter can be contained, captured, or neutralized, the fewer the casualties incurred. It is important for Cullman police officers to survive the encounter to end the massacre rather than become additional victims. The officers in the department are not currently equipped to respond to an active shooter situation, and the goal of the grant funds is to provide the officers with the necessary tactical and medical equipment. The funds will be used to purchase shotguns, ammunition, and necessary medical supplies to prepare officers for an active shooter scenario. Furthermore, the department will equip officers with an emergency medical kit containing a packet of blood clotting agent, a self-applied tourniquet, and an emergency bandage to be used if the officer or a victim suffers ballistic trauma and blood loss. The purchase of medical supplies will allow each officer to self-administer first aid. The equipment will allow the Cullman Police Department's mutual aid team to better respond to requests for assistance.

NCA/NCF