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.

Blount County will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $47,280 to enable the Blount County Sheriff's Office to equip each patrol unit with equipment needed to identify and investigate criminal activity and apprehend criminals. The Blount County Sheriff's Office will use the grant funds to equip every patrol unit with a radar, tint meter, and spike system. The funds will be used to obtain radar units and tint meters to slow traffic down on state and county roadways. The purchase of the intoxilizer will aid in the identification of intoxicated individuals on the roadway. In addition, the funds will be used to acquire a digital camera, finger print kits, and evidence recovery supplies for recording of evidence needed for investigating criminal activity and for prosecution. With the proper training, every patrol unit will become more efficient, allowing officers more time to patrol the streets and residential areas.

NCA/NCF