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 Douglasville will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award to support the Douglasville Police Department in the purchase of equipment and expansion of their Youth Against Violence Program. The Douglasville Police Department is in need of equipment to properly carry out its duties. The Douglasville Police Department has had an active Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team in existence for over ten years and a Training Division that conducts Hot House training. The Training Division will use the grant funds for the purchase of necessary equipment for daily duties and training scenarios. The department will purchase Simunition barrels, helmets, flashlights, firearms, Simunition upper receivers for patrol rifles, high gear training suits, ASP Strike Bags, training uniforms for the SWAT Team, Blackhawk Nylon Tactical belts, and 8060 Pelican LED Flashlights to be used in the patrol cars. Tasers will be purchased for less-than-lethal means of controlling combative offenders. Necessary equipment will be purchased for traffic enforcement to increase the safety of the officers and the public. The funds will be used for Vertronix Crash Data System upgrades to be utilized in the investigation of traffic accidents. Mobile data terminals will be purchased and installed in three interdiction vehicles. Furthermore, the funds will be used for the expansion and support of the Youth Against Violence Program. The funds will support meals for the youth, field trips, printing, educational opportunities, supplies, graduation, and field trips.

NCA/NCF