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 Thomasville will use its Fiscal Year 2009 Recovery Act JAG award to support the city of Thomasville Police K9 units. The grant funds will be used for the purchase and training of two new police service dogs. The Thomasville Police Department currently has three police service dog teams available. The canines will be used by the Police K9 Unit for drug detection and patrol. In addition, the K9 units will be available to assist other federal, state, and local police agencies when K9 assistance is needed. The K9s and their handlers will undergo constant training to maintain a high level of excellence and to ensure that when they are called upon, both the handler and the K9 have the training, experience, and expertise to meet even the most challenging of assignments. The procurement of two replacement dogs will allow the department to continue the K9 program and sustain two K9 handler positions.

NCA/NCF