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 city of Virginia Beach will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery JAG Act award to enhance law enforcement, courts, corrections, and drug programs. The Virginia Beach Police Department will receive grant funds to purchase driving course vehicles and tasers. The sheriff's office will use the grant funds to: obtain an automated tracking system (Biometric Access System) to account for all incoming and outgoing traffic within the correctional facility; provide for the conversion from an analog system to a digital system in the courthouse; and, secure computer software to provide information to locate next-of-kin and assets of unclaimed bodies. The Office of the Commonwealth's Attorneys will receive grant funds to purchase a case management system. The Youth Opportunities Office will use the grant funds to implement a Summer Youth Employment Program for at-risk youth. The Community Corrections and Pretrial Office will receive funds to hire staff to provide pretrial investigations to interview juvenile defendants scheduled to appear in court. The courts will receive grant funds to hire part-time office assistants for the Criminal Courts, and probation and parole officers. The courts will also purchase a multimedia evidence display system for the courtroom.

NCA/NCF