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 Shreveport, town of Vivian, and the parish of Caddo have been certified disparate and have agreed to share the aggregate of funds allocated to them through the Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award. The Shreveport Police Department will fund a police officer overtime project to address crimes through extra patrols in targeted geographical areas and by increasing investigative efforts. The Shreveport Police Department will also supplement a new hire project through the purchase of equipment such as handheld communication devices, bulletproof vests, tasers, and weapons for new police officers. The Vivian Police Department will purchase a video data recording system for patrol. This project intends to address public safety concerns and foster accountability of law enforcement. The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office will purchase fully-equipped police vehicles for increased patrol throughout the parish, a police boat to enhance the response of the Marine Unit to critical incidents, a document imaging system for criminal records, tasers for the Regional Training Academy, tactical equipment for their Special Response Team, and other needed law enforcement equipment.

NCA/NCF