FY 2009 Recovery Act 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.

Sandoval County and the cities of Rio Rancho and Bernalillo town will use the $243,805 in Recovery Act JAG funding to support separate law enforcement initiatives. Specifically, the city of Rio Rancho will use funds to purchase marked vehicles and allied support equipment for its police department. The town of Bernalillo Police Department will use its share to purchase a marked cruiser, laptop computers, police bicycles, and tactical and crime scene investigation equipment. The salary of a part-time records clerk will also be supported. The clerk will be responsible for enhancing the department's law enforcement records system. Remaining funds will be used by the county to purchase records management software that will enhance the gathering, analysis, and dissemination of law enforcement records and data. When possible, purchases will be made from local vendors in an effort to provide revenue to area companies, thereby reducing unemployment and stimulating the economy. For purposes of grant administration, the city of Rio Rancho will serve as the fiscal agent for this award.

NCA/NCF