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.

Johnson County, through the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, will be the administrative and fiscal reporting agency for the disparity funding for the Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award on behalf of the cities of Gardner, Leawood, Lenexa, Merriam, Mission, Olathe, Overland Park, Prairie Village, Roeland Park, and Shawnee. The projects being funded through this program include replacing outdated equipment in the courthouse, purchasing and upgrading software programs, and replacing outdated vehicles with new 'green' hybrid vehicles. Programs funded through this grant are primarily for law enforcement and will cover a range of areas. Johnson County activities include replacing outdated video arraignment equipment and purchasing a digital voice recording system to assist with court proceedings. Prairie Village's program includes an equipment purchase of a voice stress analyzer and ballistic vests. The police departments of Gardner, Leawood, and Olathe will up-grade their existing radio communication equipment to meet the low-band frequency requirements. The city of Lenexa will implement a technology-based program including the purchase of an automatic plate reader, photograph evidence storage, and audit tracking along with personal portable video cameras. Both Mission and Merriam Police Departments will purchase software programs which, when converted, will aide with employees' computer access. The software enhancements for the Merriam Police Department will enable citizens to make minor reports on-line. The Shawnee Police Department will undertake an in-car video recording project. The cities of Roeland Park and Overland Park will purchase light bars for fleet vehicles. In addition, Overland Park will purchase low emission hybrid vehicles to replace their existing high-mileage vehicles. The funds provided for the programs will improve the quality of service each agency provides to its community through their activities, upgrades, and equipment purchases.

NCA/NCF