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 disparate jurisdictions consisting of Marathon County and the city of Wassau will use their Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award in the amount of $138,847 to coordinate efforts to purchase equipment, hire new staff, retain current staff, and support anti-drug efforts. The Wausau Police Department will use their share of the grant to purchase squad car equipment such as cameras, light bars, computers, rifle racks, and computer software to upgrade office and investigation equipment. The Marathon County Sheriff's Department, serving as the fiscal agent, will use their share of the grant to purchase helmets for their SWAT and dive teams, first aid, a moveable target system for the firearms range, a squad car, and to fund a new deputy. Marathon County is also committed to assisting and protecting at-risk youth. These funds will enable Marathon County to provide drug testing to caregivers whose children were removed because of substance abuse issues. These tests will determine whether the children are returned to the home. The funds will also provide incentives to youth who continue their education and attend basic life skills training.

NCA/NCF