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 the city of Muncie and Delaware County will share the Recovery Act JAG award. The Muncie Police Department will serve as the fiscal agent managing the Recovery Act JAG funds. Muncie City will purchase police cruisers, state of the art crime scene vans to thoroughly investigate crimes on location, a video forensic system, and air cards for patrol vehicle laptops for the Muncie Police Department. The Delaware County will purchase supplies and equipment to comply with the newest technologic advances necessary for the Delaware County Sheriff's Office to combat the heightened criminal activity in the community. The Recovery Act JAG funds will make it possible for both departments to maintain essential budgeted necessities without minimizing and or reducing important provisions needed by the officers, in turn preserving jobs and the aiding in the stabilization of the cities budget.

NCA/NCF