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 Gloucester will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award for the Gloucester Police Department to upgrade the technology in their cell block holding area and to enhance their communications system. The latest video surveillance system will be purchased and installed to monitor the individual holding cells and booking area. This will improve the safety of both officers and prisoners. In addition, the police department's radio communications system will be upgraded to achieve full interoperational capability with the latest digital technology. This purchase will include the replacement of portable radios and mobile radios as well as upgrades to the radio base station. These enhancements will assist in the department's ability to respond to incidents within the community in a timely and efficient manner, and will result in better police services for the town.

NCA/NCF