FY 2009 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.

The city of St. Peters will use Recovery Act JAG funds to purchase equipment and supplies for the St. Peters Police Department. Specific purchases include a firearms training simulator and associated supplies to train officers in the appropriate use of necessary force; direction sensing radar units to enable the St. Peters Police Department to more effectively address the safety concerns of the community with regards to speeding violations; small, rechargeable flashlights to be worn on officers' equipment belts so they have a ready source of light with them at all times; and portable pedestrian and traffic control signs that will be maintained in a utility vehicle for conveyance to the scenes of significant events for the purpose of enhancing the police department's ability to safely direct pedestrians and vehicles.

NCA/NCF