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 disparate jurisdictions consisting of Callaway County and Fulton City will use their Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $39,358 to purchase safety equipment for the sheriff's department patrol cars and to provide tactical equipment and training for the Special Tactics and Response Team (START) city police officers. The Fulton County Sheriff's Department will use $23,683 to equip 12 patrol cars with up-to-date LED light bars. These light bars will improve their visibility throughout the county. The Fulton Police Department will use $15,675 to equip and train their tactical response team for various law enforcement emergencies. The equipment that will be purchased includes tactical vests, holsters, handgun lights, airsoft guns, and non-lethal practice ammunition. With the availability of new equipment and the additional training, the Fulton Police Department will be better prepared to respond to drug-related incidents and arrest warrants, as well as possible lock down situations that might occur in the area prison, state hospital, or juvenile facility.

NCA/NCF