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 Escambia County and the cities of Atmore and Brewton will use their Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award to fund the Increased Patrol and Interoperable Communication Project. The cities of Atmore and Brewton are currently experiencing increases in crime rates. The city of Atmore will purchase two Ford Crown Victoria police package vehicles and the city of Brewton will purchase two Dodge Charger police package vehicles. All the vehicles will be equipped with appropriate light bars, screens, sirens, cages, antennae, speakers, consoles, radar, and radio equipment. By increasing the number of marked police patrol vehicles in both cities by two vehicles each, it is expected that the increased visibility of law enforcement officers will serve as a deterrent to additional crimes, as well as reducing emergency response times. Escambia County, the fiscal agent, will use the grant funds to support the Escambia County Sheriff's Office by purchasing radio equipment. The sheriff's office will purchase a radio console that will allow communication across frequencies, thus eliminating a barrier that prevents information sharing that can lead to improved public safety and crime solving. This console will allow interoperable communication without the purchase of additional radios by the various agencies. The project is expected to increase police patrols in high-crime and high-unemployment areas and improve communication and emergency response times for law enforcement and emergency responders.

NCA/NCF