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 disparate jurisdictions consisting of Maury County and the city of Columbia will use their Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $257,978 to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of current police operations in an effort to reduce crime, specifically, violent crime. The technological improvements will be implemented to enhance collection, processing, and dissemination of crime data in a real-time format. Equipment purchases will enhance the department's ability to respond, investigate, and prosecute crimes. The city of Columbia, serving as the fiscal agent, will use their share of the grant to purchase 31 laptops for use in its patrol vehicles, forensic and investigative equipment, specialized equipment for crime analysis and intelligence dissemination, enhanced security cameras within the department, and one evidence collection vehicle. Maury County will use their portion to purchase four marked patrol vehicles and Community Oriented Policing literature relating to its Neighborhood Watch Programs.

NCA/NCF